Newswise — WEST HARTFORD, Conn., November 27, 2012 – Bruce P. Hermann, Ph.D., professor of neurology and director of the Charles Matthews Neuropsychology Lab at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, has been named recipient of the American Epilepsy Society’s (AES) 2012 Service Award. Throughout his career Dr. Hermann has worked to improve the understanding, treatment, and prevention of adverse behavioral and quality of life outcomes of epilepsy and epilepsy surgery in children and adults.

The AES Service Award recognizes Dr. Hermann for his service in the field of epilepsy and long record of voluntary service to AES and its members, including two terms on the AES board of directors, and active membership over the years on some 15 AES committees and task for groups, two of which he chaired.

The award will be presented November 30th during ceremonies at the Society’s 66th annual meeting and scientific conference at the San Diego Convention Center.In announcing the award, John Huguenard, Ph.D., who chairs the AES awards committee, said, “Bruce has been extraordinarily generous in the time and energy he has his given not only to AES, but to the epilepsy community at large. Through both his research and through his extensive volunteer activity, he has been a major contributor to our understanding that epilepsy is more than just seizures.”

Aside from his commitment to AES, Dr. Hermann has also been an active volunteer with the Epilepsy Foundation, the national lay organization dedicated to helping patients and families affected by the disorder. He has served on the foundation’s board of directors, as a member and chair of its professional advisor board, and of its research committee. He has been active on several working groups and committees for the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, as well as neuropsychology working groups for ILAE, the international organization for professionals in epilepsy.

Dr. Hermann has been a contributing editor of the AES journal Epilepsy Currents and presently serves on the editorial boards of Epilepsy and Behavior, Epilepsy Research, The Journal of Epilepsy, and as an associate editor for Epilepsia.

About the American Epilepsy SocietyThe American Epilepsy Society, based in West Hartford, CT, seeks to advance and improve the treatment of epilepsy through the promotion of research and education for healthcare professionals. Society membership includes epileptologists and other medical and allied healthcare professionals, and scientists concerned with the care of people who have seizures and epilepsy.

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Information Contacts:Peter Van Haverbeke, AES Media Relations, cell 703-927-9639, [email protected]Natalie Judd, Big Voice Communications, cell 203-605-9515, office 203-389-5223, [email protected]