16th annual Mardi Gras Gala

After two virtual years, the EFEPA is thrilled to return to Vie by Cescaphe (600 N Broad Street) in Philadelphia for the 16th annual Mardi Gras Gala on Friday, February 24th, 7:00pm-midnight! Adapted from the traditional New Orleans celebration, the signature black-tie Gala features an open bar complete with hurricanes, a three-course French Creole dinner, lively entertainment, and dancing to a seven-piece band. The Carnival-inspired entertainment, extravagant decorations, beads, and masks all add to the festive atmosphere.

Join us to celebrate the local community while recognizing our Honorees and the Foundation's accomplishments. So, dust off your dresses and tuxedos, pick out your favorite glittery mask and reserve your seat for the biggest night of the year...Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Transportation:
Complimentary valet parking will be available in front of the venue. Claim one $10 Lyft credit to/from the hotel to Vie by entering code MARDIGRAS23.

Visit www.lyft.com/lyftpass/MARDIGRAS23 to redeem your voucher!

Meet this year's King & Queen of Mardi Gras, Mark and Michelle Theeuwes, epilepsy advocates, champions, volunteers, but most importantly, loving parents!

Mark and Michelle Theeuwes are parents to two beautiful young ladies, Brielle, 19, and Bryanna, 17. They lived in Buckingham, PA, for over 15 years.

At 21 months old, Brielle had her first prolonged Partial Complex Seizure and was hospitalized for 3 days, with little to no information or support from the surrounding Tennessee medical community. After moving to Bucks County, they were relieved to find a tremendous amount of knowledge and understanding. During Brielle's first appointment at CHOP, they were introduced to the EFEPA.

Brielle's seizures remained uncontrolled throughout elementary school, requiring immediate medical intervention to stop each one. The family learned the hard way that, even after 3 hours of seizing on an airplane, her seizures do not stop on their own. This fueled Michelle's passion for identifying Brielle's triggers to prevent them. She educates teachers and school staff about focal seizures, emphasizing that not all seizures are the same and creating a safe environment for her daughter.

Mark's career in the pharmaceutical industry led him to an opportunity as COO of Engage Therapeutics. He ran a successful Phase 2b clinical trial, testing a Rapid Epileptic Seizure Termination product called staccato alprazolam. To Mark, this was not a job; it was a personal passion to change the lives of people with epilepsy. Today, Mark is the CEO of Receptor Life Sciences, where he is now initiating a Phase 1b clinical trial, testing the possibility of their inhalable CBD product affecting seizure activity in the brain.

In July, Mark was nominated to contribute his personal and professional experience as a member of the Epilepsy Foundation of America's Board of Directors. Both Mark and Michelle are currently working with the EFEPA, government officials, and local families to help amend the current law in order to mandate Seizure Recognition & First Aid Training in all Pennsylvania schools.

Mark, Michelle, Brielle, and Bryanna are very excited and honored to be this year's Royal Family!

Meet this Year's Medical Honoree, Kate Davis, MD!

Dr. Kate Adamiak Davis, Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Penn Epilepsy Center, has been dedicated to helping epilepsy patients for over 20 years. She has treated countless patients with epilepsy with her holistic approach to medicine, considering the patient and their loved ones individually in complex care decisions. Throughout her career, she has been a dedicated volunteer to the epilepsy community, educating patients and caregivers at EPEFA events and working alongside Penn colleagues to support the EFEPA at annual events like the Walk to END EPILEPSY.

In 2020, Dr. Davis joined the EFEPA's Professional Advisory Board and has served on the Board of Directors since 2021. On these boards, she has helped start new initiatives such as the Ammon's Horn Society. She has served on the National Professional Advisory Board for the Epilepsy Foundation of America (EFA) since 2018 and joined the Executive Committee in 2020. She serves as the Chair of EFA's Research and New Therapeutics Committee, providing direction for future research efforts supported by the Foundation. She also participates in national events such as the Epilepsy Research Roundtable and the Epilepsy Foundation Pipeline Conference.

Her philanthropic work complements her impressive research career of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, including the Davis Lab. The goal of the Davis Lab is to provide scientifically validated patient-specific treatment recommendations for drug-resistant epilepsy patients.

We are thrilled to honor Dr. Davis' contribution to the epilepsy community, her volunteerism, and her leadership with the Charley & Peggy Roach Founders' Award and Eric Burton Osberg Award.