About the Organization
This section will help you become better acquainted with how the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles is organized and how it operates and who is involved in our work.

Our office is located at:
Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles
5777 West Century Blvd, Suite 820
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: 800.564.0445 or 310.670.2870
Fax: 310.670.6124
Email:  Email

From this location the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles directs the programs and services that help realize the mission and fulfill the vision.

Our vision - Not Another Moment Lost to Seizures
Our mission - Ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and prevent, control and cure epilepsy through services, education, advocacy and research.

[return to top]

Volunteer Leadership & Committees
Your Epilepsy Foundation Affiliate is comprised of volunteer leadership, volunteer committee members and staff who work together to guide the organization and provide services and support to individuals affected by epilepsy in our large territory.

Board of Trustees, 2009-2011
Officers
Stephen DesJardins, President
Steven Baum, Vice President
Earl I. Feldhorn, Treasurer
Christine Aberle, Secretary
Members
Elizabeth Aquino
Hillary Arrow Booth
Mark Borman
Christine Bower Baca, MD
Jeffrey M. Chung, MD
Christina De Floria
Allene Freedman
Andrew Gumpert
Laurette Hayden
Christianne Heck, MD
Oonagh Sankar, RN, MRC, CCM

Professional Advisory Board, 2008-2010

Kara Barton, MSW
Christine Bower, MD
Sirichai Chayasirisobhon, MD
Jeffrey Chung, MD
Richard Daims, PhD
Sunita Dergalust, PharmD
Sandra Dewar, RN, MS/CNS
Surisham Dhillon, MD
Leonard Dubin, Esq
Dawn Eliashiv, MD
Bill Feeman, RN
Andres A. Gonzalez, MD
Jeff Gordon, Esq.
Christi Heck, MD
Roger Huf, MD
Deborah Jones, RN, MN
Laura Kalayjian, MD
David Y. Ko, MD
Jason Lerner, MD
Travis Losey, MD
Jesus Machado-Salas, PhD, MD
Marco Medina, MD
Lora Morn, RN
Arthur Partikian, MD
Irene Ruzin, Esq
Kiarash Sadrieh, MD
Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Maro Sasaki
Mary Silvia, MD
Diane Stein, MD
John Stern, MD
William Sutherling, MD
Barbara E. Swartz, MD, PhD
Catherine A. Tucker, MA, RN
Lori Uber-Zak, MD
Barbara J. Wilson

Volunteer Committees

Family Camp
Pat Enriquez
Rebecca Gutierrez
Linda Harding
Lora Morn, RN (Camp Nurse)
Kevin Oliver
Don Shin
Patricia Leyva, Staff Coordinator

Teen Retreat
Joseph Castanon
Pat Enriquez
Rebecca Gutierrez
Lora Morn, RN (Camp Nurse)
Lizzie Saft
Steve Sitomer, Chairman
Patricia Leyva, Staff Coordinator

Adult Retreat
Kara Barton, MSW
Linda Harding
Linda Sussman
Patricia Leyva, Staff Coordinator

Epilepsy Freedom Walk
Sherry Fortier, Chair
Christine Aberle
Jill Palmer
Rebekkah Halliwell, Staff Coordinator

Brain Storm Summit
The members of the Professional Advisory Board serve on the committee to help organize the annual Epilepsy Brain Storm Summit.

[return to top]

Staff Team

Susan Pietsch-Escueta
Executive Director
Email

Julie Paletta
Finance Director
Email

Rebekkah Halliwell
Assistant Director
Email

Patricia Leyva
Program Coordinator
Email

Lupe Martinez
Program & Administrative Assistant
Email

Michelle Bareng
Project Coordinator
Email

Joan Spellman
Program Coordinator
Email

Jonnie Jones
Project Coordinator
Email

[return to top]

Key Collaborators
The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles prides itself in its collaborative relationships with community and state organizations and the academic epilepsy centers in developing a continuum of care for people with epilepsy.

Current partners and collaborators include:
•    The Regional Centers       
•    The Art of Elysium  
•    Keith’s House Foundation
•    The specialty epilepsy centers at:
    •    Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
    •    USC Keck School of Medicine
    •    David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
    •    Huntington Memorial - Epilepsy Brain Mapping Program
    •    Hoag Hospital
    •    Loma Linda University Medical Center

[return to top]

What We Do
We are here for you, as we have been for over 50 years. We are your local Epilepsy Foundation Affiliate. The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles is the only non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated solely to serving people affected by epilepsy in this region. Our tax ID is 95-2046033.

Though we are an independent non-profit organization, we have chosen to affiliate with the national Epilepsy Foundation in Landover, Maryland.

The local Epilepsy Foundation offers a range of services and programs to help and support those who are affected by epilepsy. In addition, we seek to educate the general public - those that work with, care for, serve, do business with, educate or encounter people with epilepsy during their daily lives - to better understand epilepsy/seizure disorders.

The Epilepsy Foundation/Greater Los Angeles was initially established as the Los Angeles County Epilepsy Society (LACES) in 1957 by a dedicated social worker, Betty Ticho, and a Board of committed volunteers. Between 1989 and 1997, we were known as the Epilepsy Foundation of Los Angeles and Orange Counties. In 1997, we expanded to provide services in San Bernardino and Ventura Counties which were not being served by an Epilepsy Foundation Affiliate. More recently we modified our name to simply the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles. We still continue to service Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties despite the consolidated name change.

[return to top]

Whom We Serve
We serve individuals and families affected by epilepsy/seizure disorders. Our primary areas of service include the Counties of Los Angeles (9.95 million), Orange (3.0 million), San Bernardino (2.0 million) and Ventura (0.8 million). The combined population of our territory is more than 15.75 million. At least 1 percent of the population has epilepsy/seizure disorders. Thus, in the four Counties we serve, almost 180,000 people have epilepsy. When you include family members and caregivers, many more are seriously impacted by epilepsy in their daily lives.

[return to top]

Hours
Our office hours are 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. from Monday to Friday, except on Holidays. As of April 1, 2009, our office is closed every other Friday. The Resource Center in the office is open during normal work hours and is also open for extended hours by advanced appointment. Appointments and use of the Resource Center can be scheduled during non-work hours based on staff availability.

[return to top]

Location & Directions
The office of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles is located at 5777 West Century Blvd, Suite 820, in Los Angeles, California. To visit our office you can find us just 3 blocks east of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Entrance to our building and parking is on 98th Street, between Airport and Bellanca Avenue. Please note, parking is available in the building for a fee. You may also be able to find street parking.


We are reachable by bus and metro
Call 800/COMMUTE for routes.
Use Mapquest for more specific directions from your home.

We are reachable by
Telephone: 800.564.0445, 310.670.2870
Fax: 310/670-6124
Email:
General Information and Support Services
See above for email addresses of specific staff members

From Santa Monica
Take Lincoln Blvd. South
Merge onto Sepulveda Blvd.
Take the Century Blvd. Turnaround (East on Century)
Make a Left on Airport
Make a Right on 98th Street
5777 W. Century Plaza is on your right hand side

From Orange County
Take the 405 North.
Exit on Century Blvd.
Make a left off the exit (West on Century)
Make a right on Bellanca
Make a left on 98th Street
5777 W. Century Plaza is on your left hand side.

From the Valley/Ventura County
Take the 405 South
Exit on Century Blvd.
Make a left off the exit (La Cienega)
Make a right at the first light (Century Blvd.)
Make a right on Bellanca
Make a Left on 98th Street
5777 W. Century Plaza is on your left hand side

From Southeast LA
Take the 105 Freeway West
Exit on La Cienega/Aviation
Make a left off the exit.
Make a Right on Aviation
Head West on Century Blvd.
Make a Left on Century Blvd.
Make a Right on Bellanca.
Make a Left on 98th Street
5777 W. Century Plaza is on your left hand side.

[return to top]