Quick Study: Comorbidities & Epilepsy in Adults

Dr. Winston is a Professor of Neurology in the Department of Medicine, Centre for Neuroscience Studies and School of Computing at Queen's University. His clinical practice focuses on rapid assessment following first seizure, and presurgical assessment of refractory epilepsy. His research laboratory employs neuroimaging, neurophysiology, robotics and machine learning to understand the cognitive comorbidities of epilepsy and improve the diagnosis and surgical treatment of patients with epilepsy. He is a member of the ILAE Neuroimaging Task Force and several international research collaborations.

Dr. Julien Hébert is a Clinician-Investigator neurologist and epileptologist based at the TWH (University Health Network) and an Assistant Professor at the U of T Department of Medicine. He has a medical degree from McGill, completed residency in Adult Neurology at UofT, Clinical Fellowship in Epilepsy from Columbia University, and a Master of Epidemiology at Sorbonne University. His research interests include autoimmune encephalitis, pregnancy and epilepsy, and neurogenetics.

Dr. Maria Claudia Burbano is a neurologist and epileptologist. She completed her medical degree at the University of Buenos Aires and her first year of epilepsy fellowship at the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires. She is currently an Epilepsy Research Fellow at Western University in London, Ontario. Her main interests include the presurgical evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy, with a focus on SEEG and radiofrequency procedures

Dr. Teixeira Marques is an Epileptologist at Hamilton Health Sciences. Dr. Paula Marques completed her medical degree in Brazil. She completed a fellowship in the Epilepsy Genetics Department at the University of Toronto and joined McMaster University in 2023. Her main research interests are Genetics in Epilepsy and Women's issues. She recently started a Women's Epilepsy Clinic in collaboration with the obstetrics team at McMaster.

Carly joined the team at Epilepsy South Central Ontario as a Case Manager and Community Epilepsy Educator in 2018. With a passion for helping others and an interest in neuropsychology, Carly loves to both educate the community about epilepsy and knows there is always more to learn. The Echo sessions are a very important and proud part of her role as a community epilepsy educator and bring meaning to the clients she serves as a case manager.

Rosie is a Registered Psychotherapist with a masters degree in counselling psychology. She works at Epilepsy Toronto, providing education, counselling and advocacy for people living with epilepsy and their caregivers. Rosie has clinical experience and training providing cognitive behaviour therapy for mood and neurobehavioural therapy for patients with functional seizures. In her role, she helps patients understand their diagnosis, learn self-management strategies and how to navigate community resources.

Ashley Fournier is an NP in the Epilepsy Program at Hamilton General Hospital. She has worked in the outpatient clinic and EMU since 2014. Ashley obtained her Master of Nursing NP from University of Toronto.

Keri Tingling is an NP in the Epilepsy Program at Toronto Western Hospital (UHN). She works in an outpatient clinic alongside 5 epileptologists who specialize in women's health and pregnancy, rare genetic syndromes, and addiction. Her research projects include an observational study on the effects of CBD oil in patients with epilepsy, and a music study to empower pregnant women with epilepsy to create custom lullabies for their babies.

Melissa Meisner is a dedicated and compassionate registered neurosciences nurse with over 20 years of experience at Kingston Health Sciences Centre – KGH site. More recently she has established herself as the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit Nurse Navigator with an empathetic approach that has earned her recognition both from her peers and the patients she serves. With a strong commitment to patient-centered care she has successfully created a comfortable and proficient environment for admitted epilepsy patients.
When she’s not assisting patients in their epilepsy journey she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. Travel provides her great enjoyment and downtime. As a steadfast advocate for the epilepsy population, Melissa is on the Board of Directors with Epilepsy South Eastern Ontario. She notes volunteering has always been a rewarding passion.

Lynda recently joined Epilepsy Southwestern Ontario as a Clinical Educator. Lynda is interested in learning more about all forms of Epilepsy, treatment, and testing. Her nursing background includes hospital, community, and LTC as well as teaching PSWs. Lynda is grateful to be a part of these educational sessions. Reg. N, DPHN, BScN, Ma (leadership).