Seizing Hope: High Tech Journeys in Pediatric Epilepsy

EVENT TIMELINE

4:30PM Doors open

5:00PM Screening starts

5:30PM Panel and Audience Q&A

6:00PM Reception

6:30PM Adjourn

Can new technology bring hope to children who have drug-resistant epilepsy?

More than 500,000 children in Canada and the USA have epilepsy. About a third of those children continue to have seizures despite taking anti-seizure medications, also known as pediatric drug resistant epilepsy (DRE). Surgery may be one option for them, but what if there is another option that is less invasive or more effective? What if new technology can bring hope to children who have DRE?

RECEPTION

We would like to invite you to join us for a short reception immediately following the screening. The reception will take place at the same venue as the screening.

OPENING REMARKS

Dr. Judy Illes, CM, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS

Professor and UBC Distinguished Scholar in Neuroethics, Director, Neuroethics Canada, University of British Columbia

MODERATORS

Dr. George M. Ibrahim, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FAANS, FACS

Abe Bresver Chair in Functional Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children

Associate Professor, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Medical Science, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto

Dr. Patrick J. McDonald MD, MHSc, FRCSC

Associate Professor and Head, Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba

Section Head, Neurosurgery, Shared Health Manitoba

PANELISTS

Dr. Carolina Gorodetsky, MD

Medical Director, Pediatric Deep Brain Stimulation Program, and Program Director, Movement Disorder and Neuromodulation Program, Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Dr. Elizabeth J. Donner, MD, MSc, FRCPC

Director, Comprehensive Epilepsy Program & Pediatric Neurologist, The Hospital for Sick Children

Michael Bahen Chair in Epilepsy Research and Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto

Mrs. Heather Carnie

Parent Stakeholder

Mrs. Sara Breitbart, RN (EC), MN, NP-Paediatrics

Nurse Practitioner, Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children

Adjunct Lecturer, Lawrence S. Bloomberg – Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto

Please note that seating is general admission and is first-come, first-served. Tickets obtained through registration at Eventbrite do not guarantee guests a seat at the theatre. Theatre is overbooked to ensure a full house.

ABOUT SEIZING HOPE

Families with children suffering from pediatric drug resistant epilepsy (DRE) face complex realities. In a world guided by the promises of technology, the goal of Seizing Hope is to raise awareness about the options offered by different technologies specifically for the brain in complement or as an alternative to treatment with medication. As the directors and producers of this mini-documentary, we want to empower and improve decision-making by exploring values and priorities through the lens of the families and doctors who care for them. We compiled the stories of four families with children who have pediatric DRE to shed light on their hope, trust, and empowerment journey.

The views and research presented in this documentary represent a multi-year neuroethics project funded by the National Institute of Mental Health of the USA National Institutes of Health, BRAIN Initiative.

CREDITS

Neuroethics Canada UBC, with funding from the NIH/NIMH BRAIN Initiative (#RF1MH117805-01) in association with Conexkt Innovation Studio And Cassiar Film CO. present Seizing Hope.

Featuring the Bagg, Chartrand, Thompson, and Cowin families.

Executive Producers Dr. Judy Illes and Dr. Patrick J. McDonald.

Produced by Dr. Johann Roduit. Directed by Adam Wormald

Learn more at https://www.seizinghopefilm.com/