Professional Advisors

Advisory Board

The Professional Advisory Board of the Connecticut Epilepsy Advocate Foundation is different from most others. How so? Besides working with doctors, we also work with physician assistants, educators, attorneys, personal confidants, medical device representatives, and drug manufacturer representatives. Naturally, because of privacy, not all will be listed on this page. Every one of them works with us on a pro bono basis.

Veeresh Kumar N. Shivamurthy, MD

Dr. Kumar serves as the Medical Director of the Epilepsy Center, Director of the Clinical Neurophysiology Lab, and is an Attending Neurologist at Saint Francis Medical Center, Hartford. He is providing Epilepsy and EEG services to Saint Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, and other sister hospitals with the Trinity Health of New England Medical Group. Dr. Kumar has presented at many national and international conferences, and his findings have been published in professional journals and textbooks.

Dr. Zagar

Dr. Zagar is the Medical Director of the Yale Neurology Fairfield/Milford practice. He practices general neurology and has specialty certification in Headache Medicine. He also has an interest in mind-body medicine and functional neurological disorders. He has been principal investigator in numerous clinical trials, in areas including migraine and Alzheimer's disease.

Benjamin Shapiro

Benjamin Shapiro specializes in Disability cases throughout Connecticut. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association with over a decade of active practice in the field of Social Security Disability and before that he has extensive experience working for the Social Security Administration.

Donna Evans

Donna Evans has helped so many of our clients find the best prices for their Prescriptions.

Jim Lambert

Jim Lambert, founder of First Choice Consulting, LLC, has been helping people create income strategies for their retirement since 2001. Jim offers assistance with Medicare and works to help his clients find the most appropriate Medicare program to fit their lives and financial situation. His passion is helping protect the assets of his clients and helping them pursue their retirement and income goals.

Steven L Saunders M.D. MBA FACP

Steven L Saunders is a practicing internist in Milford, Connecticut, with 30 years of experience in primary care internal medicine. Dr. Saunders also teaches medical students at Yale and Quinnipiac University where he holds faculty appointments. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and received his training at New York University and Bellevue Hospital Medical Center. He has also received an MBA in healthcare management from Quinnipiac University. Dr. Saunders is currently the President-elect of the New Haven County Medical Association.

Steven Schlusselberg

Steven Schlusselberg has been a Certified Public Account for over thirty-five years. During his constant interaction with people across America, whether they are clients, friends or acquaintances always tells them about our Organization the minute the word Epilepsy is said and that is truly appreciated.

Traci O'Brien

Traci O'Brien is a Licensed Insurance Agent specializing in Medicare solutions. She owns Senior Insurance Consultants with her husband Christopher Wojtusik and has a downline of 40 agents. With almost 20 years in the health insurance industry, Traci found her passion for seniors in 2010 when the first Baby Boomer turned 65. She is a huge proponent of educating her clientele so they can make the best choices for themselves and then facilitate the enrollment process.

All of these professionals have graciously offered their advice and services to us at no charge, and we appreciate their generosity and look forward to working with them.