CURE CEO Tapped for Illinois Medical Distric Commission

Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE),which Connie Milstein serves as a member of the Board of Directors, made headlines this week in Chicago. The organization’s CEO, Carmita Vaughan, was appointed to the Illinois Medical District Commission by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Vaughan has worked for CURE since she joined as Chief Operating Officer in 2010. Prior to working with CURE, Vaughan served as Chief Strategy Officer for America’s Promise Alliance, a youth development organization founded by Gen. Colin Powell. She has also worked for the Chicago Public Schools Office of High School and High School Program. She has also worked with Fortune 500 companies in the following roles: global marketing, strategic planning and engineering/operations management. She serves on the Board of Directors for Marwen, a Chicago-based arts education organization, the Academy of Urban School Leadership and America’s Promise Alliance.

In her newly appointed role, Vaughan will be one of seven charged with overseeing, coordinating and reviewing development projects within the Illinois Medical District. She was selected because of her experience with medical issues and healthcare, her commitment to community service and her managerial experience.

Supporting CURE in San Francisco

CURE, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, is excited to see San Francisco getting into the action. On March 25^th, the 1^st Annual San Francisco CURE Benefit Dinner will be held at The Four Seasons Hotel on 757 Market Street in San Francisco.

Certainly, CURE, where Connie Milstein is on the Board of Directors, values all of its sponsors and patrons. As a nonprofit organization, they are dedicated to finding a cure for epilepsy and can only do so with the funds raised for research.

The 1^st Annual San Francisco CURE Benefit Dinner will include a sponsor reception at 5:30 pm and a general reception beginning at 6 pm followed by dinner. The keynote speaker is David Axelrod, a Former Senior Advisor to the President and there will be a special performance by Grammy Award-winner Peter Rowan.

Be Part of the CURE in Boston

In recent news, Boston will see its first benefit for CURE, the volunteer-based organization founded by mothers of children with epilepsy. On Friday, October 15, 2010, the first annual Boston Benefit for CURE will take place at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.

The guest speaker will be Pulitzer Prize-winning author and presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Dinner chairs include Anne Finucane, Mike Barnicle and Susan Axelrod. Certainly, board members such as Connie Milstein support the efforts of CURE to create these fundraising events and to tirelessly work for a cure for epilepsy.

New Epilepsy Research

The CURE website features a fascinating article about a recent study. This article explains that researchers found that deep brain stimulation reduces the frequency of partial epileptic seizures in patients who don’t respond well to medications. The study was conducted by Robert Fisher, MD, PhD of Stanford University and his colleagues.

Certainly, this information is exciting news for supporters of CURE such as CURE President Susan Axelrod and board members Barbara Kelly, Connie Milstein and others.

Linda Resnick, Connie Milstein & Others Raising Epilepsy Awareness

Author Linda Resnick recently published an article on HuffingtonPost.com that urges people to pay more attention to the need for epilepsy research and cures. She explains that a huge number of people in the world have active epilepsy, comprising nearly 1% of the world’s population, but that most people still don’t like to talk about this disease.

She was recently invited to lead a brainstorming session on how to overcome this stigma. She was invited by representatives of The American Epilepsy Society, The Epilepsy Foundation, CURE where Connie Milstein is on the board, and other esteemed organizations.

She wrote, “ It is my hope that this initial work will be the first small step in creating a wide-reaching campaign, one similar in scope and effectiveness to those conducted by breast cancer and prostate cancer research. It is only by educating society on epilepsy that we will dispel the mystery surrounding it.”

Katie Curic Special Guest at CURE Annual Dinner

CURE, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, was thrilled to be celebrating unprecedented media exposure recently. On Friday, April 16, 2010, they had their annual dinner in Chicago with special guest Katie Couric. This renowned journalist from CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes brought important media attention to this incredibly worthy cause.

Certainly, CURE President Susan Axelrod and Board Members including Jeanne H. Donalty, Thomas F. Hynes, Connie Milstein and others enjoyed sharing in this exciting night.

Support for CURE From Connie Milstein

Epilepsy research is underfunded when compared to other illnesses receiving funding for research. According to a study conducted in 2008, whereas Parkinson’s disease received between 2,000 and 2,500 dollars per patient in the United States, Epilepsy research received only 500-590 dollars per patient.

One of the mandates of CURE, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, is to lobby the government and educate the public to give funds for Epilepsy research which is on par with other health research in the U.S.

The newest board member of CURE, Connie Milstein will be contributing to this effort and help bring the goals of CURE to the forefront of the consciousness of the public in the United States.

Connie Milstein Comes on Board of CURE

Connie Milstein has recently added another organization that she actively supports with her hard work and determination. Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, known as CURE, has added Ms. Milstein to their board of directors.

Susan Axelrod is the President of CURE, which she co-founded with two other women in 1998 after experiencing years of frustration and disappointment trying to find appropriate medication or a cure for her daughter Lauren’s severe epilepsy.

Connie Milstein has been involved with CURE in the past, helping with fund raising and hosting special events for the supporters of CURE. It was only a natural consequence of Connie’s undaunted and devoted support which led her to becoming an active board member for CURE.