Our Board of Directors
Dr Bryan Lynch is a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Childrens Health Ireland at Temple St and The Central Remedial Clinic, Clontarf. Dr Lynch has a special interest in epilepsy. He trained in the US and Ireland, and was previously co-director of the epilepsy programme at Children’s Hospital, Pittsburgh.
Nicola Kehoe is proud mum to Cillian, who has a diagnosis of Dravet Syndrome, and his sister Lena. Nicola lives in Waterford and is a physiotherapist working in paediatric disability. Through the experience of learning to live with Cillian's diagnosis, Nicola felt the need for an organisation within Ireland for families in similar situations. Nicola co-founded Dravet Syndrome Ireland in 2020.
Jeff Mier is the proud father of Caleb who has a CHD2 genetic mutation. This mutation has many similar characteristics and symptoms to Dravet Syndrome. Jeff is originally from Michigan, USA, and has lived in Ireland for over 15 years, now living in Tipperary. Jeff works in the financial service industry. Jeff joined Dravet Syndrome Ireland in 2020 in order to help families and children find their way to navigate some of the challenges that they might face.
John Verling is Dad to Freddie, a young adult living with Dravet Syndrome. John works as a freelance writer, and with Lisa, Freddie’s Mum, cares full-time for Freddie. Freddie’s diagnosis only came when he was 18, and it has been a long road of learning and setbacks for the family. John and family live in Tralee, County Kerry and know all about the struggles of raising and caring for a child with complex needs. John believes in raising the awareness of Dravet Syndrome and in fighting for all the help families need to live with it.
Clinical Advisor to the Board
Prof Norman Delanty is a Consultant Neurologist and the Director of the Epilepsy Service and National Epilepsy Surgery Programme at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. He is also Clinical Professor at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, and a funded investigator at the Science Foundation Ireland-funded FutureNeuro Research Centre at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
Professor Delanty initiated the Irish epilepsy biobank. He was the clinical instigator in the development of the now nationally-used Epilepsy Electronic Patient Record. He is also the founder of the Irish Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register. Professor Delanty has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, and he has edited two books. In 2009, he received an ILAE Ambassador for Epilepsy Award. He is a recent past President of the Irish Chapter of the ILAE.