Chapter Name: American Epilepsy Society
Report By: Eileen M. Murray

Publications:

Epilepsy Currents

Summary of Activities:

Board and Governance
Realigned committees under the Council on Education for more effective oversight and execution of programs. Created an Early Career Grant Committee. Gathered data on gender diversity in AES leadership roles and awards to inform work of future task force. The Basic Science Task Force, appointed by Dr. Mizrahi, identified important actions we are now implementing to re-engage and better serve our basic science community. AES became a member of the AMA Specialty and Service Society, as part of the Neurology Section Council. The Board approved Key Performance Indicators to better track progress against strategic goals.

Epilepsy Currents
Impact factor rose to 9.33. We are completing a transition to new publisher, Sage Publishing, effective with publication of the January/February 2019 issue. It is expected that with this new partnership we will expand the reach and impact of the journal.

Education
First 21 modules of Fellowship Curriculum launched. Performance Improvement CE Module on Improving Outcomes for Transitions from Pediatric to Adult Epilepsy Care produced and approved by ABPN for MOC credit. Self-assessment Volume 5 launched with ABPN approval for MOC credit, Volume 6 in development. Ask-the-Expert webinar on Infantile Spasms, Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care both produced and also available online. Two Depression and Anxiety Handouts were created, for pediatric and adult. AES led the 4th biennial PAME conference – AES provided education, fundraising and meeting management. Online education module on diagnosis and treatment of LGS – funded by grant from Lundbeck and produced in partnership with the France Foundation and LGS Foundation, available via MedScape. New initiative launched to deepen engagement of APPs and better meet their resource needs launching at this annual meeting.

2018 Annual Meeting
Number of abstracts – 1,350 accepted. Investigator Workshops – submissions tripled to 37, accepted 17. Held a CAAE joint international forum. Fellows program continues to evolve in response to fellow feedback – expanded professional development sessions, more opportunities for peer-to-peer networking, more focused mentor connections. We expanded the career pathways panel and career skills training sessions, open to all attendees.

Clinical Activities

We are submitting a request to the National Uniform Claim Committee to have epilepsy code added for provider specialty.

Research

Membership

Communications

AES issues expert alerts on CBD and Epilepsy and on approval of Epidiolex and rescheduling of FDA-approved medications containing pharmaceutical-grade CBD. AES as a member of ELC signed on to Epilepsy Leadership Council policy agenda which includes support for increased research funding; support for funding for surveillance, data collection and prevention activities; and opposition to policies which limit access to care.

Collaboration and Partnership

AES continues as the administrative home for, and member of, Epilepsy Leadership Council. With the Epilepsy Foundation, AES is a partner in National Epilepsy Education and Awareness Collaborative, and represented at EF Research Roundtable and Learning Health Initiative. AES is a partner in the CNF Infantile Spasms Awareness Network (ISAN) and Transitions Project Advisory Committee (TPAC). With ILAE, AES partners to support the Joint Translational Task Force and is engaged in helping to secure U.S. support for placing epilepsy on the WHO Executive Committee agenda. AES also continues to support ILAE efforts for a global epilepsy research initiative in the EU.

Challenges:

AES continues to examine how we can best support all professionals in the epilepsy community to meet our shared mission of eradicating epilepsy and its consequences. Meeting the diverse needs across all areas with the best offerings possible is our greatest challenge and opportunity.

Future Plans:

AES recently updated our 2015-2020 strategic plan and will be develpoing a new strategic plan in fall 2019.

Officer Election Date: Elections take place in the fall each year and terms begin at the December Annual Meeting