Epilepsy Foundation Elects New Board Of Directors And Chairman

LANDOVER, Md., May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Epilepsy Foundation, a national organization dedicated to serving all people with seizures, today announced the election of its first official Board of Directors, following the completion of its merger with the Epilepsy Therapy Project.  Directors from both organizations and several new nominees sit on the newly-formed board.  Warren Lammert, former Chairman and co-founder of the Epilepsy Therapy Project, now a strategic initiative of the Epilepsy Foundation, has been named Chairman of the Board.  The new Foundation board includes leading philanthropists, industry executives, renowned researchers and clinicians in the field of epilepsy, bringing the total number of Directors to 22.

Philip M. Gattone, President and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation thanked Brien J. Smith, MD, immediate past Chair, for his commitment.  "Brien has served the Epilepsy Foundation and community during the most challenging and remarkable time in our history.  We are at an important crossroads where our role has grown to support people with epilepsy, national and local advocacy, and medical innovation.  The Epilepsy Foundation has expanded its presence in communities across the country to become a voice and resource for people living with epilepsy.  We're grateful for all Brien has helped the Epilepsy Foundation accomplish and pleased he will continue his work as a board member."

"As our incoming Chairman, Warren Lammert brings vision and passion that will unify our organization around its primary mission.  We are here to ensure invaluable programs and services are available on a local and national basis, and to accelerate the development of new therapies.  I have known Warren for many years and he is a relentless champion.  Under Warren's leadership, we will also tackle important issues in epilepsy and seizures, such as furthering research and funding for rare epilepsies and Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy or SUDEP." 

Warren Lammert, a father of a child with epilepsy, co-founded the Epilepsy Therapy Project in 2002, which along with the Epilepsy Foundation has supported the advancement of more than 49 new therapies.  Mr. Lammert is Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Granite Point Capital and has more than two decades of investment industry experience.  Previously, he spent 14 years at Janus Capital Group serving in investment and senior management roles, and prior as a Research Associate and Associate Analyst at Fred Alger Management.  Mr. Lammert currently holds seats on the Board of Overseers with Beth Israel Medical Center, the board of FACES (Finding a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures), affiliated with New York University, and Langone Medical Center.  He received his B.A. in Economics from Yale University and graduated with distinction from the London School of Economics with a M.Sc. in Economic History.

"I am honored and thrilled to serve as Chairman of the newly-merged Epilepsy Foundation and have the opportunity to work with such a motivated and talented board.  Our objectives are clear as an organization.  We will direct the Epilepsy Foundation with a strong voice and take critical actions to create positive change in the lives of people living with epilepsy and seizures," said Mr. Lammert.  "We are dedicated to driving innovation and accelerating the development of effective treatments for all people with epilepsy." 

In connection with the naming of the new Board of Directors, the Epilepsy Foundation announced the following new officers:

• Warren Lammert, Chairman of the Board
• Roger Heldman, Treasurer
• May J. Liang, Secretary

The members of the newly elected board include:

• Joyce A. Bender, Chief Executive Officer, Bender Consulting Services, Inc.
• Bradley P. Boyer, Esq., Kutak Rock LLP
• Nanette DeTurk, Executive Vice President, Highmark, Inc.
• Orrin Devinsky, MD, Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, Director, NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
• Frank M. Fischer, President & Chief Executive Officer, NeuroPace, Inc.
• Philip M. Gattone, President & Chief Executive Officer, Epilepsy Foundation
• Brooke E. Gordon
• Roger Heldman, Chief Executive Officer, Blumenthal Uniforms
• Jim Jacoby, Chief Executive Officer, The Jacoby Group, Inc.
• Warren Lammert, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, Granite Point Capital
• May J. Liang, General Counsel, Chief Financial Officer, OpenConcept Systems, Inc.
• Kevin Malone, President & Founder, Greenrock Research
• Garry E. Menzel, PhD, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Regulus Therapeutics
• Dan Moore, President & Chief Executive Officer, Cyberonics, Inc.
• Denise Peppard, Corporate Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Geoff Pope, Vice President, A. P. Orleans Risk Management, Former NFL Professional Athlete
• Steven C. Schachter, MD, Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Chief Academic Officer, Center for Integration of Medicine & Innovative Technology (CIMIT)
• Brien J. Smith, MD, Medical Director, Spectrum Health Medical Group
• Robert W. Smith, Vice President, TRowe Price
• Howard R. Soule, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer, Prostate Cancer Foundation
• Art Taggart, Executive Director, Epilepsy Foundation Heart of Wisconsin
• Elizabeth Weiswasser, Esq., Partner, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

About Epilepsy
When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they have epilepsy, which affects nearly three million people in the United States and 65 million people worldwide.  This year, another 200,000 people in our country will be diagnosed with epilepsy.  Despite all available treatments, four out of 10 people with epilepsy continue to experience uncontrolled seizures while many more experience less than optimal seizure control.

About the Epilepsy Foundation
The Epilepsy Foundation, a national non-profit with affiliated organizations throughout the United States, has led the fight against seizures since 1968.  The Foundation's goals are to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and to prevent, control and cure epilepsy through services, education, advocacy and research, so not another moment is lost to seizures.

To learn more about epilepsy, visit www.epilepsy.com.  'Like' the Epilepsy Foundation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/epilepsyfoundationofamerica and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/epilepsyfdn

SOURCE Epilepsy Foundation