Child Neurology Community Conversations from the Voices of the Provider, the Caregiver, and the Advocate: Cannabis in Epilepsy
- What we know and do not know from the current available evidence on medical cannabis in the treatment of epilepsy
- What role does this evidence and its gaps play in a physician’s behavior and attitude toward cannabis
- What physicians would like caregivers to consider regarding epilepsy treatment with cannabis
- Lessons parents have learned through the use of cannabis as part of their child’s regimen
- Misconceptions about medicinal preparations
- Role of advocacy groups and how caregivers can best engage with these groups to navigate this evolving conversation
- Resources available for education and self-advocacy
About the presenters
Dr. Anup Patel
Anup Patel, M.D. is board certified with special qualifications in child neurology, epilepsy, and clinical neurophysiology. He is an associate medical director for Partners for Kids, the nation’s largest pediatric accountable care organization (ACO). He is the director of the complex epilepsy clinic. He is an associate professor for neurology and pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He has journal publications and clinical research interests in the field of pediatric epilepsy, health care utilization and quality improvement.
Nicole Villas
Nicole serves on the board of directors for the Dravet Syndrome Foundation (DSF). The mission of DSF is to raise funds for research for better treatments and a cure for Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that begins in infancy. Prior to caring for her eleven year old son, who has Dravet syndrome, Nicole studied chemistry and physics at Carleton College and the University of Minnesota, then worked for chemical company and taught science for several years. In addition to her work with DSF, she volunteers with the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado and enjoys hiking and skiing in the mountains.
Dr. Catherine Jacobson
Dr. Jacobson obtained a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the Oregon Health & Science University, and completed post-doctoral fellowships at UCSF and Stanford. In 2013, Dr. Jacobson published the first account of parental treatment of pediatric epilepsy patients with medical cannabis in Epilepsy & Behavior. The publication of this paper was motivated by her own experience of attempting to treat her son’s severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy with cannabis preparations. Her personal and professional experience in this field led her back to UCSF, where she set up the first compassionate access program for pure CBD (GW’s Epidiolex) for children with severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy. As the Director of Clinical Research at Tilray, a Canadian medical cannabis provider licensed by the federal government, Dr. Jacobson is responsible for organizing clinical trials to advance scientific understanding of the therapeutic potential and risks of medicines derived from cannabis.
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