Epilepsy Blog Relay: Meet Torie Robinson of Epilepsy Sparks

Torie Robinson

Torie Robinson is a charismatic and engaging podcast host on her show, Epilepsy Sparks Insights, where she features global leaders where she features global leaders in epileptology & neuroscience, plus, is CEO of Epilepsy Sparks which bridges the gap communication gap between clinicians, scientists, and families through education.

Torie is also an international keynote speaker: employing her personal and professional knowledge and experience of epilepsy, mental health, and diversity & inclusion to speak candidly on what it means to be different, how her illnesses/disabilities (and abilities!) affect her, affect others, and how organizations can be both inclusive and have an impact.

Epilepsy Sparks Podcast

Here’s one of her recent episodes:

Epilepsy Leadership

Torie has had both brain surgery for her epilepsy and stints in psychiatric hospitals due to mental health illnesses. Through her own lived experience, and her deep connection to the scientific community, Torie provides insight into the space where both psychiatric and neurological illnesses intersect.

With significant experience in the healthcare, education, financial and banking sectors, Torie communicates within these industries and relating professionally, internationally, culturally, and personally. She has held leadership roles in NHS, Epilepsy Action, and EpiCare.

Check out our link to the Epilepsy Glossary she developed, which has been endorsed by the Epilepsy Nurses Association (ESNA)

Jessica K. Smith Founder and CEO; Executive Director

Jessica Keenan Smith is a patient advocate and epilepsy community leader with more than 15 years of experience. As Founder and CEO of Living Well With Epilepsy and Executive Director of ASENT she bridges the gap between the scientific and patient communities, with a particular focus on the needs of the epilepsies. Jessica Keenan Smith is Founder and CEO of Living Well With Epilepsy, an award winning online resource for people affected by epilepsy to share stories and access in-depth information on the disease. Since 2009, Living Well With Epilepsy (https://livingwellwithepilepsy.com) has been featured in Forbes, Wired, NBC, NPR and the cover story of Epilepsy Advocate Magazine and has partnered with companies such as UCB, Lundbeck, Sunovion, Eisai, and more. Ms. Smith is also the Executive Director of the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics (ASENT) (https://asent.org), an organization that brings together leaders from industry, academia, government and advocacy who are engaged in bringing drugs and devices to market across all neurologic disease states. In this role she is responsible for leading a successful scientific journal and annual scientific conference with speakers from all over the world.

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