Statewide Epilepsy Service Organization Expands Services in North Central Florida

 Miami-based Foundation Partners with Epilepsy Services in North Central Florida to Focus on Epilepsy as State’s “Hidden Healthcare Crisis”

February 1, 2008, Gainesville, FL – Business executives and leading neurologists today announced that the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (EFOF), the first state-wide organization to direct and coordinate epilepsy research, treatment and funding efforts, has joined forces with local epilepsy service providers to expand services in the North Central Florida region.  EFOF is the lead agency for epilepsy service programs sponsored by the state, as well as the sole licensee in Florida of the National Epilepsy Foundation.

 “We are pleased to bring the North Central Florida region under the umbrella of the Foundation.  This is a trend that is exciting to us where we can bring together the strength of a state-wide organization with the commitment and passion of local leaders and epilepsy services providers”, said Karen Basha Egozi, who serves as Executive Director of EFOF.  She currently heads a statewide staff with offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville and now Gainesville.  “This expansion represents another step toward aligning the state’s most prominent epilepsy proponents and experts and unites us in an effort to prevent the disorder and support those afflicted with it through increased awareness among all Floridians as a vehicle to prevention, diagnosis and funding,” Egozi added.

Over the past 37 years, Epilepsy Services in the mostly rural 16 counties of the North Central Florida region have been previously overseen by the University of Florida and, more recently, the Epilepsy Association of Central Florida based in Orlando.  In 2007 Gainesville neurologists and long-time providers of medical care to the program, Chris Sackellares, Basim Uthman and BJ Wilder, partnered with local business executives to devise a plan for managing the services on a local basis again while benefitting from the larger efforts and status of EFOF.  Jim Lyons, who has managed the North Central Florida epilepsy services operations since 1992 will continue to head EFOF’s Gainesville office at 1000 N.W. 8^th Avenue.

“ We are very pleased to be affiliated with a dynamic organization such as the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida, it will only mean better service for our clients and others in this region who either need our services or wish to expand their knowledge about epilepsy”              said Lyons, who’s sentiments are echoed by his staff.  “The rural nature of our region means that we, as case managers,  spend more time out in the county health departments and educating primary care providers and have less time to focus on administration and other important tasks such as grant-writing and fundraising, “ said Pat Smith , who has been a Case Manager in the region for 18 years.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors is led by Patricia Dean, ARNP, MSN; Coordinator of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Miami Children’s Hospital; and former member of the National Epilepsy Foundation Board.  The Board has expanded to include several dedicated individuals from the North Central Florida Region.  Stephanie Warrington of Synogen Development Group and Tonya Talton of Ortho-McNeil Neurologics have joined Drs. Sackellares and Uthman on the Board.  “As EFOF board members, our focus over this next year will be to better understand the unmet need in the area while identifying our local allies and those affected by epilepsy who can work alongside with us to raise funds and expand our mission with the help of EFOF,” said Warrington.

Hidden Healthcare Crisis

EFOF administers a statewide program of education advocacy and fundraising under the theme of  “Epilepsy: Florida’s Hidden Healthcare Crisis”. More than 360,000 Floridians are estimated to suffer the effects of various epilepsy disorders. 

“All of the factors that create an explosion of epilepsy cases are present in Florida,” said EFOF Executive Director Karen Basha Egozi.  “Statistically, epilepsy is most likely to affect children and seniors, both of which are unusually large portions of our population.  Florida’s active, outdoor and athletic year-round lifestyle further increases the risk of the disorder as the onset of epilepsy frequently occurs as a result of head injuries.  Finally, our state is home to 11 military bases, and we are witnessing an alarming rise in epilepsy as a result of head trauma incurred by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

“There is every reason to believe that epilepsy is a crisis in Florida.  Clinicians and medical centers cannot keep up with the diagnosis and treatment demands created by Florida’s rapidly growing population,” said Patricia Dean, EFOF Board President.

“Diagnosis and treatment is further frustrated by Florida’s language and cultural diversity, its limited public transportation system and by its shortage of neurologists and epileptologists.  We hope to increase accurate diagnosis by eliminating some of the stigma and misunderstandings about the disorder,” Dean added.

About the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida 

The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; improves how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted and valued in society; and provides medical care, prevention and education, case management, support groups, children’s camps and advocacy for persons with epilepsy. The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida is the lead agency for epilepsy service programs sponsored by the State of Florida, and is also the sole licensee of the National Epilepsy Foundation in the state.