William Dennis Chair in Pediatric Epilepsy Research created

Ms. Sarah Dennis, sister of the late William Dennis, spoke on behalf of the family. "It is our hope that this chair will make a real difference." (Abriel Photo)

One recent afternoon, pediatric epilepsy expert Dr. Joseph Dooley was called upon to care for a young patient who had started having seizures. As he spent time with the four-and-a half year old child, he also began to get to know the family and their concerns.

"The family had questions I couldn't answer," said Dr. Dooley, a Professor of Pediatrics and Head of the Division of Pediatric Neurology, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre. "With pediatric epilepsy, there are many questions, not so many answers."

Dr. Dooley was on hand for the recent announcement of the creation of the William Dennis Chair in Pediatric Epilepsy Research. This chair, the first of its kind in Canada, will increase new knowledge and understanding of pediatric epilepsy. The chair is named in honour of William Dennis, who died of complications relating to an epileptic seizure in August, 2002.

Halifax's Dennis Family has made a leadership gift of $2.3 million to endow this research chair, and an additional $500,000 has also been secured from other donors toward the total funding of $3.5 million.

"This is of profound importance to the university because it is important to this community," said Dr. Tom Traves, Dalhousie's President. "We are a small community, we know one another and we want to work together." He recognized the commitment that Sarah Dennis has made toward ensuring that the chair is fully funded, motivated by her dedication to a cause "near and dear to her heart." Dr. Traves also noted the significant role of the Province of Nova Scotia in investing in medical research.

Premier John Hamm personally thanked the Dennis family for their "kindness and generosity" in establishing this research chair. "Now it is a story of hope, a story that will take us a step closer to a cure." Premier Hamm praised the dedicated work of health care professionals and medical researchers who are working in pediatric epilepsy.

The chair will be located in the Department of Pediatrics at the IWK Health Centre. "We already have a strong program. Now with the support of the Dennis family, who we are happy to call friends, we'll shoot for number one in the world," said Anne McGuire, President and CEO, IWK Health Centre.

Friends and co-workers joined the family of the late William Dennis as he was remembered in remarks during the event in University Hall. "He'd be honoured, and humbled, and pleased," said William's sister Ms. Sarah Dennis, speaking on behalf of the family. "It is our hope that this chair will make a real difference."

The prestige of the chair will enable the recruitment of a candidate of international stature and the establishment of a major centre for research, education and patient care in Halifax, said Dr. Harold Cook, Dean of the Dalhousie Medical School.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting approximately one per cent of the population, including about 9,500 Nova Scotians. While the disorder is a common one, and while there are effective treatments for many people with epilepsy, medical researchers continue to work hard to come up with better treatments capable of helping even greater numbers of people.