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Contact: Catherine Duncan, (210) 567-2570
Sindi Rosales, (210) 653-5353

Feb. 14-15 South Texas Epilepsy Clinic perfectly timed:
St. Valentine is the patron saint of those with epilepsy

WHO:
Charles Szabo, M.D., professor and chief of epilepsy at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio and co-director of the South Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, will see local residents at a South Texas Epilepsy Clinic, which is overseen by the Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas. The clinic is funded in part by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

WHEN:
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15

WHAT:
Dr. Szabo is a neurologist and epilepsy specialist with UT Medicine San Antonio, which is the clinical practice of the School of Medicine at the Health Science Center. Dr. Szabo said diagnosing and treating epilepsy can be a life or death matter. For 20- to 40-year-olds whose seizures are not controlled by medication, there is a substantially higher risk of injury and even death.

Epilepsy occurs in almost 1 percent of the population: Two-thirds have seizures controlled by medication while the remaining one-third is not helped by medication. Those not helped by medication can be evaluated at a comprehensive epilepsy center to determine if they are candidates for brain surgery to control the seizures.

The South Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Center in San Antonio is nationally accredited for the treatment of epilepsy, served by a multispecialty group that evaluates and treats medically refractory epilepsy patients, and offers the newest medical therapies and epilepsy surgery.

While Dr. Szabo provides diagnosis and treatment, the Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas provides information, direct assistance, social services, seizure clinics, referrals, employment preparation, summer youth opportunities and many more services to those diagnosed with epilepsy.

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the U.S. after migraine, stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Its prevalence is greater than autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease combined. Despite how common it is and major advances in diagnosis and treatment, epilepsy is among the least understood of major chronic medical conditions, even though one in three adults knows someone with the disorder.

WHERE:
UT Health Science Center’s Regional Academic Health Center
Academic and Clinical Building, Room 1.326
2106 Treasure Hills Blvd., Harlingen


NOTES:
For media who come to the epilepsy clinic, the on-site contact person is Sofia Lopez, clinical services manager.


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UT Medicine San Antonio is the clinical practice of the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. With more than 700 doctors – all School of Medicine faculty – UT Medicine is the largest medical practice in Central and South Texas. Expertise is in more than 100 medical specialties and subspecialties. Primary care doctors and specialists see patients in private practice at UT Medicine’s flagship clinical home, the Medical Arts & Research Center (MARC), located at 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio 78229. Most major health plans are accepted, and UT Medicine physicians also practice at several local and regional hospitals. Call (210) 450-9000 to schedule an appointment, or visit www.UTMedicine.org for a list of clinics and phone numbers.