AES DEI Committee On Demand Webinar Series: Understanding Social Determinants of Health in Epilepsy Care

Build a foundation for understanding social determinants of health and their influence on epilepsy care. Speakers will examine disparities connected to economic status, insurance, geography, and education, along with current gaps in SDOH screening and care coordination.

At the end of this webinar, attendees should be able to:

1. Describe key social determinants of health domains and how they influence epilepsy care and outcomes.
2. Identify key disparities in epilepsy diagnosis, treatment access, and outcomes linked to economic status, insurance, geography, and education.
3. Recognize gaps in SDOH screening and care coordination in current epilepsy practice.

Anny Reyes, PhD
Anny Reyes, Ph.D., is a clinical neuropsychologist at the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute and Epilepsy Center. Her research examines how social, cultural, and environmental factors influence cognitive and brain health across neurological disorders, with a particular focus on epilepsy and aging. Dr. Reyes’ work integrates neuropsychology, public health, and community-engaged research approaches to better understand the cognitive and social outcomes of neurological disorders, address disparities in brain health, and improve equitable access to neurological care. Her work is funded by the National Institutes of Health, American Epilepsy Society, and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Clinically, Dr. Reyes has expertise in cultural neuropsychology, with a particular focus on assessing neuropsychological syndromes in linguistically diverse populations, including Spanish-speaking patients.

Amanda Mitchell, MPH
Amanda Mitchell is the Executive Director of Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana (EAL), where she works to support all people in Louisiana living with epilepsy, their families, and the community. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Southeastern Louisiana University and a Master of Public Health in Behavioral and Community Health Sciences from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Public Health. Amanda began working for EAL after her son was diagnosed with epilepsy. She is passionate about raising awareness of the public health impact of epilepsy and promoting programs and policies that address these challenges, disparities, and inequalities.

Gabi Conecker, MPH
Gabrielle (Gabi) Conecker, MPH is mom to Elliott, a teenager who is profoundly impacted by SCN8A-DEE. She is a patient advocate, nonprofit leader, and lay-researcher dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by SCN8A and rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). She is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Decoding Developmental Epilepsies, which houses a number of collaborative efforts aimed at improving care, quality of life and treatments for those with rare epilepsies - the International SCN8A Alliance, DEE-P Connections and The Inchstone Project. She is currently the Chair Ex-Officio of the Epilepsy Leadership Council and deeply involved with the work of the Epilepsies Action Network. Since 2014, Gabi has collaborated with families, leading scientists and clinicians worldwide authoring and contributing to peer-reviewed studies on topics ranging from managing care for those with SCN8A to quality of life for individuals with severe neurodevelopmental conditions. Her passion is advancing work that sits at the intersection of science, advocacy, and community-building — ensuring that patient and caregiver perspectives shape the development of therapies and clinical trial design for some of the most complex and underserved rare diseases.