ABOUT eGP

eGP has been created by Dr Rosemary Panelli MPH PhD CPMAAPM.

As an epilepsy researcher who has worked as the manager of a busy general practice in country Victoria, Rosemary believes there is much that can be done at the primary care level to improve health outcomes for people with epilepsy. She is a certified practice manager with the Australian Assocation of Practice Managment and the CEO of a Disability Service delivering suppots under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Rosemary has worked in the field of epilepsy since 1995, developing programs and resources for patient support and community education. Her interest in epilepsy-related health policies and services led her to pursue a Master of Public Health and a PhD.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) has been an issue of particular concern in Australia for more than 20 years and Rosemary has been involved in SUDEP action from the beginning, actively fostering international collaboration where possible. She served on the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) Commission for Risks and Insurability and the IBE Research Committee. In 2011 she received the IBE Ambassador for Epilepsy Award.

Rosemary was invited to participate in an international SUDEP workshop held in Washington in 2008 and continues to participate in US SUDEP activities. She is an adjunct research associate at Monash University with research interests that include the investigation of epilepsy deaths including those recorded in the National Coronial Information System (NCIS), and she is the part-time International Research Officer for SUDEP Action UK.

Rosemary believes that GPs are currently the missing link in epilepsy care. 'Australia has good epilepsy specialist care in place but GPs need to actively participate in the day to day monitoring and education of people with epilepsy. GPs can make a unique and powerful contribution to the reduction of epilepsy-related risk and comorbidity, and the promotion of well-being in people living with epilepsy' she says. A recent BMJ editorial by Professor Leonie Ridsdale highlights these issues.