Epilepsy Foundation of Kansas and Western Missouri

Our Board of Directors

Nancy Duboc, President
Nancy heads the board as president.  The utility
of our Foundation was first evident to her as a
child, through her brother's having epilepsy and
our not existing yet.  Seeking information about
his epilepsy, her mother found little.   

This disregard motivated her mom to create the
Epilepsy League, our Foundation's predecessor.
In result, people throughout the region gained
a source of information, contacts, and concern
for their epilepsy.

That result is important to Nancy, who wants to
see the Foundation continue it.

Karen Calvin, Vice President

Mary Kerr Knighton
Mary is glad to have joined the board.  Her
appreciation of us occurred as she observed
the services we provide, not only for people
having epilepsy but also for the community,
which needs better awareness of epilepsy.

A native of Kansas City, Mary works in the
real estate field.

Christi Ledo
Recognizing the value of our providing services
for people with epilepsy, Christi is active on our
board.  This recognition was evoked by her work
as a nurse and program coordinator at St. Luke's
Brain & Stroke Institute Comprehensive Epilepsy
Center.
 
Her board activities include heading last year's
Gala and working on the March National Walk for
Epilepsy.

Gina Leo
A family member's having epilepsy gave Gina
direct encounter with the disorder. The Foundation's
help was not enough for her -- she chose to join
our board of directors.

Along with her board membership, Gina is the
Director of Public Relations at HOK Sport Venue
Event, a global firm based in Kansas City.

Kore Liow, M.D.
Medical Director, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
and Neurophysiology Laboratory, Via Christi
Regional Medical Center, Clinical Campus of the
University of Kansas School of Medicine in
Wichita, Kansas.

Dr. Liow is Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept. of
Medicine and Psychiatry at U. Kansas School of
Medicine in Wichita and Clinical Assistant
Professor, Dept. Neurology at U. Kansas Medical
Center in Kansas City, KS.

Dr. Liow has written for Epilepsia, Neurology,
Seizures, Arch.of Neurology, Ped. Neurology,
and others. Research is his prime pursuit in
Wichita, focused on controlling epilepsy.

Thomas E. Nanney

Marty Nichols
Marty Nichols has been on our board for many years,
expressing an active appreciation of the Foundation.
 
Active describes the appreciation Mary has held
during her life for many groups in the Kansas City
area.  Philanthropy is her field, referring not to a
job department but to a living approach.

Mary Ellen Purucker
Mary Ellen Purucker has been a member of the
Epilepsy Foundation Board for several years. She
has chaired plenty of our activities, including the
BBQ & Bull event and BBQ Bull Gala, which we
combined into one event.

Also assisting at Camp Shing and the Frank
Strauss Red Apple Run, Mrs. Purucker has
received the Excellence in Caring award.

Valerie Robbins
Valie has been active on our board for several
years, serving as the executive committee's
treasurer and chairing the annual Galas.
Two aspects of her life give her useful background
for the board: having a relative with epilepsy and
owning a telemarketing firm.

Bobby Olm Shipman
Bobby brings interest to his board membership,
being the Senior Director of Operations for St.
Luke's Brain & Stroke Institute.

He conveys his interest through two-way communi-
cation:  familiarizing the Foundation with medical
realities of treating epilepsy, and increasing his own
awareness of what people with epilepsy need.

Colleen Stack
Working in medical consultation, Colleen is an
administrator at a cardiology practice in Kansas
City. Her special interests for the Foundation lie
in advocacy issues. She has attended the Public
Policy Institute for four years and lobbies regularly
in Washington D.C. on issues concerning people
with epilepsy.

Colleen has served on our board for the past four
years, including as president, and has been active
with the National Epilepsy Foundation for more than
a decade.