BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Patricia Dean, ARNP, MSN, is Clinical Coordinator of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida. Patricia Dean received her BS in Nursing from Downstate Medical Center and her Master of Nursing at the University of Miami. Ms. Dean is nationally recognized for her work with children with epilepsy and has been involved with the consumer side of epilepsy on local, state, and national levels. She was formerly a Board member of the Epilepsy Foundation of America and is Immediate Past President of Epilepsy Florida. Pat is the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award from the national Epilepsy Foundation organization. She served on the Governor’s Task Force on Epilepsy. Dean is a highly sought-after lecturer and has published numerous articles. Her research interests are on the antecedents of developmental pathology in intractable epilepsy and self-management skills in epilepsy. The EFL annual award, the Beacon Award, was renamed the Patricia Dean Beacon Award in 2012 in honor of Pat’s “diligent and tireless efforts to improve the lives of those living with epilepsy through exceptional and passionate care services”.

Kevin Feig is the President of Foreign Parts Distributors in Miami, FL. Kevin has been married to Marissa Feig for 14 years, and they are parents to two wonderful children, Brody (age 12) and Becca (age 11). Kevin and his family place great value on the importance of giving back to the community. His parents Donna and Steve Feig have always been active in various charities and non-profit organizations. Kevin's father, Steve, is an active EFL Board Member and his wife, Marissa, is currently on the Board of Directors at the David Posnack JCC, located in Davie, FL. Kevin is a graduate of Portland State University, with a B.A. in Sociology.

Steve Feig is the founder and owner of Foreign Parts Distribution, Inc., located in Hialeah, Florida. Mr. Feig received his Master’s in Psychology from Mont Claire State College. He has served on the boards of various non-profit and business organizations. For ten years, Mr. Feig served on the board of Epilepsy Florida and became Board President during his tenure. As the Clayton Feig Fund founder, he has continuously held annual fundraisers to help support several Epilepsy Florida programs for children with epilepsy. Steve created the fund in memory of his son, Clayton Feig, who in 1993, at the age of 18, passed away from complications he suffered due to epilepsy. Each year, Epilepsy Florida will select one youth in each location to receive the Clayton Feig Youth Award. The award commemorates those like Clayton who battle with seizures and highlights the vital work of those dedicated to removing the stigma and misunderstandings associated with epilepsy.

Bryan Filson is a Financial Planner and earned his bachelor's degree in Finance from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He has spent the past 14 years in the financial services industry working with Trust Departments, Private Banking Departments, Certified Financial Planners®, CPA's and Estate Planning Attorneys. Bryan concentrated his efforts on incorporating banking and securities training to create a composite background geared towards customized Financial Planning. Through a previous firm, Bryan held the FINRA Series 6, 63 Licenses. Bryan currently holds the Series 7, 66, Florida Long-Term Care Certification and the Life, Health, and Variable annuity license. He also has his CRPS® Designation from the College for Financial Planning. Bryan formerly was on the board for the Economic Development Council for the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce. He was previously a Trustee for the General Pension Fund for the Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District. Bryan is currently a Board Member for The Heights Foundation. Bryan uses his experience and community involvement to create financial plans like fingerprints customized to each situation.

Carlos has a wealth of experience dealing with permitting authorities in Miami, specifically with building departments that allow his clients to engage in a close working relationship to ensure a smooth permitting process. Carlos has also successfully represented several clients before governmental entities, specifically clients competing for contracts issued by public procurement. His clients' representation has also included successful legislative lobbying efforts to make changes, modifications, or additions to current law to forward public policy efforts by his clients. Additionally, Carlos provides public outreach advice to firm clients, especially concerning politically sensitive issues. His knowledge in this area often leads to identifying problems before becoming problems, leading to an effective and efficient resolution to a given matter.

Dr. Hind Kettani, MD is a board-certified neurologist who specializes in neurology and epilepsy. Dr. Kettani has a private practice, Premier Neurology Center in Stuart, FL. Dr. Kettani earned her medical degree from Université Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco, in 2001 and completed her residency in Neurology at St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan in 2009. She completed her fellowship in Epilepsy at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. She served as an assistant professor of Neurology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. Kettani is fluent in English, French, Arabic, and Moroccan.

Dr. Susan Nelson is the medical director of Physician Health Centers, five occupational medicine facilities serving all of Miami-Dade and northern Monroe and southern Broward counties. She graduated with her medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been a practicing physician for 30 years. But her most significant accomplishment has been being a tireless advocate for epilepsy awareness since her daughter was diagnosed almost 15 years ago. She is active in all Epilepsy Alliance's fundraising events, along with her daughter Anna, and has created WWO FL, a nonprofit supporting epilepsy awareness, with all proceeds going directly to Epilepsy Alliance Florida. This year they were recognized as top fundraisers for both Miami-Dade and Broward counties. She continues to advocate for her daughter and all afflicted with this terrible disease. She, with her daughter, has traveled all over the country, tried countless medications and treatments, conventional and some not, multiple brain surgeries, and will not stop until a cure is found!

With her passion for studying policymaking and foreign affairs while attending high school, Katia chose to pursue her education in Political Science and International Relations at St. Thomas University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree. She later received her Master's Degree in Public Administration from Barry University. Katia is currently the Senior Management Analyst at the Office of the City Manager for the City of North Miami, where she is responsible for performing a wide range of comprehensive analyses of moderate to complex issues, including program administration and projects, regulations, and budget such as the city's distribution of 19 Million Dollars in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Katia and her family are long-time supporters of EAF through various programs, especially the Walk the Annual Talk fundraiser. On the 10th anniversary of her late brother, who passed away from Epilepsy at 18, she founded The Robert Philippeaux Epilepsy Organization (RPEO), a non-profit organization. RPEO was created to provide a platform for education and awareness of Epilepsy and its devastating impact on the Caribbean community. As a fervent community servant, Katia currently serves on several boards and committees in South Florida and Haiti. She is the Vice President of Revive Foundation, Secretary of the Haitian American Professionals Coalition (HAPC), and Secretary of Foundation L'infini. She is also the immediate past President of the Haitian American Leadership Organization (HALO). Katia is the recipient of the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce's 2017 Top 20 Under 40 Young Professional Class Valedictorian, Sant La Fellows Inaugural Class Graduate, and named Caribbean's 30 under 30 Emerging Leaders & Changemakers of 2018 of the Institute of Caribbean Studies in Washington, D.C., and other notable recognitions. Earlier this year, she was recognized by the Family Action Network Movement (FANM) and the City of North Miami Beach in honor of Women's History Month. Katia recently launched KMP Management Group, LLC, an organizational and strategic coordinating firm, and is currently Epilepsy Alliance Florida's Healthcare Navigation Program's spokesperson representing the Haitian community.

Dr. Tarek M. Zakaria is a board-certified neurologist who specializes in neurophysiology and epilepsy. Before joining Memorial Healthcare System, Dr. Zakaria served as the director of the epilepsy program and as co-director of the epilepsy surgery program at Norton Neuroscience Institute in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Zakaria earned his medical degree from Damascus University in 1998 and completed his internal medicine internship at West Virginia University Charleston Area Medical center in 2005. He completed his residency in neurology at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in 2008. He completed his fellowships in neurophysiology and epilepsy at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, where he later served as an assistant professor.

Vance Aloupis is CEO of The Children’s Movement of Florida and served four years in the Florida Legislature as Representative for District 115. As a legislator, Vance served as the Chairman of the Early Learning and Elementary Education Subcommittee. He has spoken across the country on issues specific to the first five years in children’s lives and is an important face in the conversation around early childhood investment. Prior to joining The Children’s Movement, Vance worked as both a civil litigator and with the Legal Services of Greater Miami’s Homeless Project. A former Student Body President at the University of Miami, student trustee on the UM Board of Trustees, and a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, Vance was the Judge Peter Palermo Fellow in the University of Miami Center for Ethics and Public Service’s Street Law program creating and teaching curricula for and in juvenile detention centers in South Florida. In 2014, Vance was honored by The Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida as the Young Floridian of the Year. And, in 2016, Vance was honored with the Emerging Leader Award from Florida International University’s Center for Leadership, the Ruth Shack Leadership Award from The Miami Foundation, and one of three “next generation” visionaries by The Miami Herald. He and his wife, Mariella, have three daughters (Isabella, Aria and Olivia) and live in Miami, Florida.