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SAN DIEGO, December 3, 2012 – Jacqueline A. French, M.D., an internationally recognized leader in the medical treatment of epilepsy, over the weekend became president of the American Epilepsy Society (AES), during the AES 66^th annual meeting at the San Diego Convention Center. She follows Frances E. Jensen, M.D., whose term as AES president has expired.  The 3,000-member Society is the world’s largest organization of epilepsy physicians and healthcare professionals dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of the disorder.

Dr. French is a professor in the Department of Neurology at NYU Langone Medical Center and director of translational research and clinical trials at the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.  She also is director of the Clinical Trials Consortium, an academic group that has performed a number of early phase clinical trials in epilepsy, and which has developed new methodologies for testing epilepsy medications.  Her research is focused on development of new therapeutics for epilepsy and on new guidance systems for clinical trials. 

Dr. French has been active in creating medical practice guidelines for the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).  She chaired an AAN/AES committee that produced two widely quoted guidelines on the use of new antiepileptic drugs.

Prior to her election as president, Dr. French had been 1^st vice president of the AES board.  She is the 2005 recipient of the AES Service Award.  She also serves as secretary of the American Society of Experimental Neurotherapeutics and head of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Therapy Project.  Dr. French has also served as chair of the ILAE North American Regional Commission and The League’s Commission on Therapeutic Strategies.

The newly elected AES president trained in neurology at Mount Sinai Hospital, N.Y., and completed fellowship training in encephalography (EEG) and epilepsy at Mount Sinai Hospital and Yale University.  She has authored over 150 articles and book chapters and edited three medical books, and lectures internationally on clinical trials and use of antiepileptic drugs.

About the American Epilepsy Society

The American Epilepsy Society (AES), based in West Hartford, CT, seeks to advance and improve the treatment of epilepsy through the promotion of research and education for healthcare professionals.  Society membership includes epileptologists and other medical and allied healthcare professionals, and scientists concerned with the care of people who have seizures and epilepsy.

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Information Contacts:

Peter Van Haverbeke, AES Media Relations, cell 703-927-9639, pvanhaverbeke@gmail.com
Natalie Judd, cell 203-605-9515, office 203-389-5223, natalie@bigvoicecomm.com