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Judith Hoyer Lecture on Epilepsy

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Judith Hoyer Lecture in Epilepsy logo

November 30, 2007
Philadelphia, PA
  • About the Lecture

    The fifth Judith Hoyer Lecture on Epilepsy, presented by invited lecturer Joan K. Austin, DNS, RN, FAAN, will be held on November 30, 2007 at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in Philadelphia, PA. The title of this year's NINDS-sponsored lecture is "Epilepsy Comorbidities: Lennox and Lessons Learned."

    The comorbities associated with epilepsy and its treatments - which include cognitive and memory dysfunction, depression, anxiety, and attention disorders - have long presented a challenge for people affected by epilepsy, their healthcare providers, and the research community. In her presentation, Dr. Austin will review early descriptions of mental health and cognitive problems that were written by key historical figures in epilepsy. She will then discuss some of the important lessons that we have learned about epilepsy comorbidities from recent research and end by describing the challenges that lie ahead.

    This Judith Hoyer Lecture on Epilepsy is the fifth in a series highlighting the promise of epilepsy research. It is held in memory of Mrs. Judith Hoyer, an active member of the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Foundation (EF) and the late wife of Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD). Mrs. Hoyer spent her life both helping families cope with epilepsy and promoting research into a cure and a better quality of life for those with the disorder. The purpose of the lecture is to raise awareness of epilepsy among researchers and the public and provide intellectual stimulation that will encourage continuing progress toward finding a cure for epilepsy.

  • Participant Bios

    Keynote Speaker, Joan K. Austin, DNS, RN, FAAN

    Dr. Joan K. Austin is a Distinguished Professor and holds the Sally Reahard Chair in the School of Nursing at Indiana University, Indianapolis, where she is the Director of the Center for Enhancing Quality of Life in Chronic Illness. In the School of Medicine she holds adjunct appointments in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, and in the School of Science she holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Psychology.

    Dr. Austin is a behavioral scientist who studies mental health and academic achievement comorbidities in children with epilepsy. Currently, she is the Principal Investigator for a 3-year longitudinal study, following 350 families after a child's first recognized seizure. This study was funded through a Jacob Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award from NINDS. Dr. Austin's research efforts have led to many awards, including the Clinical Investigator Award from the American Epilepsy Society / Milken Family Medical Foundation in 1993, the Social Accomplishment Award from the International Bureau for Epilepsy / International League Against Epilepsy in 1997, and the Distinguished Contribution to Nursing Science Award from the American Nurses Foundation in 2004.

    Dr. Austin has been actively involved in health policy at the national level. She was president of the American Epilepsy Society in 2005 and completed a fourth term on the Professional Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation in 2006. Currently, she is a member of the Advisory Council for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), and she has been a member of the Institute of Medicine since 2000.

  • Past Lectures

    On December 1, 2006, Daniel H. Lowenstein, MD, Professor and Vice Chairman in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, presented the fourth Judith Hoyer Lecture on Epilepsy at the 2006 meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in San Diego, California. The title of his NINDS-sponsored lecture was "Pathways to Discovery in Epilepsy Research: Rethinking the Quest for Cures." In his lecture, Dr. Lowenstein presented an overview of limitations of current therapies for epilepsy, reviewed accomplishments in the past 100 years of epilepsy research, and closed by discussing the importance of large, collaborative projects and advancing technology in solving many of the research questions that remain.

    On December 2, 2005, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) opened the 2005 Hoyer Lecture at the AES annual meeting in Washington, DC, speaking to an audience of over 300 epilepsy researchers, caregivers, and patients. The keynote speaker, Jeffrey L. Noebels, M.D., Ph.D. (Baylor College of Medicine), presented "New Tools to Cure Epilepsy: Genes, Pixels, Patterns and Prevention.” The lecture focused on advances in science and technology that are beginning to change the way we think about why people develop epilepsy, when the precise causes can be pinpointed in the brain, and how we can more accurately personalize treatment for every patient.
    Transcripts available for download from ScienceDirect:
    On December 3, 2004, Thomas P. Sutula, MD, PhD (University of Wisconsin - Madison Medical School), delivered the 2004 Hoyer Lecture at the AES annual meeting in New Orleans. Dr. Sutula's presentation, "Epilepsy After the Decade of the Brain: Misunderstandings, Challenges, and Opportunities," explored some of the reasons why epilepsy is challenging for healthcare professionals and scientists and how it is often misunderstood by the public.


    Dr. Sutula's remarks were published in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior, and are available to the public through a partnership between the journal and the Epilepsy Foundation. To download a copy of this article, please visit the Epilepsy & Behavior Content Preview section of the Epilepsy Foundation website.

Last updated September 18, 2007