Contraception Challenges in Women with Epilepsy
Contraception Challenges in Women with Epilepsy
We would like to invite you to join our first multidisciplinary workshop series on contraception challenges in women with epilepsy.
April 14th, 2023, and June 23rd, 2023
We are a group of physicians in Boston from Brigham and Women's Hospital (Emma Voinescu, Regan Lemley), Beth Israel Deaconess (Turdy Pang, Caryn Dutton), and Boston Medical Center (Abrar Al-Faraj), joining forces to accelerate advances in the field of caring for women with epilepsy through multi-institutional and multidisciplinary collaborations.
Supported by a grant from the American Epilepsy Society, we are organizing a workshop series with invited expert guest speakers from various disciplines (neuroscientists, epileptologists, OB/GYNs, and pharmacists) with an interest in advancing clinical care for women with epilepsy and research in women’s health issues. They will share their research and clinical insight on hormonal supplementation in women with epilepsy.
Our program will include two separate workshop series.
I. Friday, April 14, 2023, 9:30 a-5 p (hybrid)
Our morning session will consist of the following three sections, each including four invited speakers’ lightning talks:
1. Complex interactions between hormonal contraception and anti-seizure medications
Speakers: Aaron Lazorwitz, MD (John Hopkins University), Emily Johnson, MD (John Hopkins University), Esther Bui, MD (University of Toronto), Barry Gidal, PharmD, RPH (University of Wisconsin).
2. Possible effects of hormonal contraception on epilepsy/seizure control
Speakers: Caryn Dutton, MD (Beth Israel Deaconess), Suchitra Joshi, MD (University of Virginia), Elizabeth Gerard, MD (Northwestern University), and Samba Reddy, Ph.D., RPH (Texas A&M Medicine).
3. Non-contraception hormonal treatment options for catamenial epilepsy
Speakers: Page Pennell, MD (University of Pennsylvania), Angela Birnbaum, Ph.D. (University of Minnesota), Catherine Christian-Hinman, Ph.D. (University of Illinois), and Shruti Mahalingaiah, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital).
Following these presentations, the second half of the day will be spent in facilitated discussions, identifying gaps and priorities for continued work. Additionally, working groups will be created to meet regularly during the following 2 months, before the next session.
II. Friday, June 23, 2023, 9:30 a-5p (virtual)
Our second session will consist of work group presentations of joint efforts and planning for ways to continue future clinical and research collaborations.
IMPORTANT: The first workshop will be a hybrid: in-person at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and virtual. We have limited funding available to aid with travel expenses. Please email womeninepilepsy@gmail.com if you are interested in attending in person; we will offer our support (250 $) on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please let us know if you are not interested and you wish to be removed from future inquiries.
Emma Voinescu, Regan Lemley, Trudy Pang, Caryn Dutton, and Abrar Al-Faraj