Executive Director

Natalia is a dedicated advocate for disability rights, neuroscience research, and healthcare equity. She holds a BA from Swarthmore College and pursued post-baccalaureate studies in science and mathematics from UC Berkeley and City College of San Francisco. She is also fluent in Spanish, and was Director of a foreign language school before being diagnosed with epilepsy in 2019.

Since joining EFNC in 2020, she has played a pivotal role in program development, operational management, and expanding outreach initiatives to improve patient access to resources. Prior to her current role, she served as the Director of Operations, having progressed from a volunteer support group facilitator. She has co-led legislative initiatives to improve transportation accessibility for people with epilepsy and organize events for epilepsy advocates to speak to the broader community. As a volunteer research assistant at the UCSF Epilepsy Center, she has also contributed to projects focused on localizing seizure activity and improving diagnostic and treatment methods for people with epilepsy.

With a diverse background spanning operations, research, and advocacy, Natalia brings a strategic and multidisciplinary approach to EFNC and leads with the vision and dedication to ensure those affected by epilepsy receive the support they need.

Program Development Intern

Jennifer is an undergraduate Neurobiology student at UC Davis. She has been a caregiver for her older sister with epilepsy for 6 years. This experience has given her firsthand insight into the unmet needs within the epilepsy community, inspiring her to seek opportunities to advocate not only for her sister but also for the larger epilepsy community. As a Program Development Intern, she has participated in the development of community outreach and fundraising events, such as the 2024 Mental Health Symposium and 2024 Gala. Through her work with the Epilepsy Foundation, she hopes to grow as an advocate and help bridge the gap between public awareness and healthcare resources for people with epilepsy. 

She is also a biology enthusiast who conducts mitochondrial biochemistry research through B2B, an NIH-funded fellowship, and is exploring a career in medicine as an AvenueM scholar. In her free time, she’s into books, movies, spending time with friends, and attending caregiver support group meetings. 

Program Development Intern

Rida is a UC Davis student from the Sacramento Valley, majoring in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology after achieving multiple associate degrees in the Life, Social, and Physical Sciences. She has dedicated hours of volunteer work within resource equity and education for K-12 and college students. With these experiences and her background of a chronic pain disability, she is able to use her specialities to recognize the life-changing nature of epilepsy and the necessity of legislative advocacy. As an EFNC Intern, she has assisted in community outreach by social media and poster distribution, along with the setup of fundraising events like the 2024 Annual Gala Benefit for Epilepsy. She also does mitochondrial research alongside emergency medicine clinical research at UC Davis Medical Center to gain further insight in communities of need.

Program Development Intern

Atena Tork is a Program Development Intern dedicated to raising awareness and advocating for individuals with epilepsy. With hands-on experience volunteering in the Labor & Delivery and Emergency Departments at Sutter Health, she has witnessed firsthand the challenges patients face. She is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Biomedical Science at Sacramento State. She is also training as an Emergency Medical Technician to expand her ability to provide critical care in urgent situations. In addition to her advocacy work, she conducts research at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, focusing on mitochondrial classification and separation. Through her combined experience in healthcare, research, and academia, she aims to bridge the gap between science and public awareness to create a more informed and supportive community for everyone who is affected.

Marketing Intern

Thomas joined Northern California Epilepsy Foundation in 2024 as a social media and graphic design intern. After being diagnosed with epilepsy, he became passionate about volunteering and raising awareness about the condition. He hopes to make a positive impact on the community and use his own experiences to support others.

Older Adults with Epilepsy Support Group Co-Facilitator

Maralou Higgins is a volunteer facilitator for the senior support group. As a retired teacher with over 30 years of professional and volunteer work with adults and children, she has worked with groups on everything from basic literacy to robotics and computer technology. Maralou joined the Epilepsy Foundation groups as an Adult Art Therapy Program member. This program helped her remember her love of arts, crafts, and writing. Now she participates in the Adult Support Group, as well as the Writing, Crafting Group, and the First Aid Training program.

Young Adults Support Group Facilitator

Jodie was born in Berkeley, CA and raised in the Sacramento Valley. She has a background in various forms of dance and movement education and has a passion for making dance accessible to everyone. She studied, taught, and performed with The Portland Community Ballet, in Portland OR, where she began teaching yoga to adults, and ballet and creative movement to children. Over time, epilepsy caused Jodie to step away from the dance world, but she continues to have devotion and love for dance and still carries a passion for teaching. She is thankful to be a part of the Epilepsy Foundation and its wonderful community, and delighted to be the facilitator for the adolescent support group.

Older Adults with Epilepsy Support Group Co-Facilitator

Yarrow Rubin is a patient navigator and support group leader. She lives on her family homestead on the Mendocino County coast, where she and her husband raised their three now adult children. Yarrow is a retired midwife and has experienced volunteering at a clinic in Nepal and in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Yarrow’s adult life has been informed by epilepsy, after her first seizure at 21 years old. She finds learning about epilepsy, blogging about it and participating in epilepsy advocacy and support groups greatly fulfilling. Yarrow enjoys being active in her Jewish community. She loves to read, to cook, crafting, nature, plants, the ocean, to travel, and going to museums.

Spanish Speaking Support Group Facilitator

Stephanie Suarez has been a middle school Spanish teacher in the Tri-Valley for the past two years, and worked for the Lawrence Livermore Lab as a group leader during the pandemic. She is currently thirty years old and was diagnosed with JME sixteen years ago. With ongoing focals and tonic clonics, Stephanie has found being a member of the Northern California Epilepsy Foundation life-saving. She first entered simply as a member of the adult support group, and has now grown into leading the Spanish support group.

Volunteer Support Group Facilitator

Amanda Parker is a volunteer at the Northern California Epilepsy Foundation. She graduated from California State University Sacramento with a degree in Child Development in 2015. Currently she is involved in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program at UC Davis Mind Institute. She was 27 when she was diagnosed with epilepsy. She has tonic clonic seizures, focal impaired awareness seizures, psychogenic non epileptic seizures, and autism spectrum disorder. She is a member of the adult art group and adult support group. She loves to be busy in her spare time with special Olympics, reading, art, and spending time with her friends, family, and dog.

Volunteer Hobby Group Facilitator

Born and raised in the South Bay Area, Vianna was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 12. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development. Currently she is a tutor for English as a second language for Korean students and a math tutor. She’s been a preschool teacher and a homeschool teacher. She enjoys mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and camping. She also enjoys sewing, doing puzzles, listening to music, and writing.

Volunteer Hobby Group Facilitator

Raised in Beavercreek, Ohio, Gerald has served in the US Navy, where he worked on fixed and rotary wing aircraft, he was medically discharged for seizures. He has also worked in alcohol and drug treatment for over 2 decades while living in San Jose. During that time, Gerald’s work ranged from individual case management, clerical support for treatment centers, and coordinating court reports that focused on helping individuals overcome combined legal, substance use, and mental health issues as well as employment and housing searches.

After his seizures increased and interfered with his employment, Gerald retired to Grants Pass Oregon and continues to participate with the NorCal epilepsy foundation groups where he finds support, comfort and purpose.He spends his time watching the wildlife in the lake behind his home, walking his dog Rylie through vast parks, and trying new hobbies.

Volunteer Ambassador

Kimberly Bari, who grew up in CT, has a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from Elon University along with a Master’s Degree in education from Loyola University Maryland. She taught elementary school up in Spokane, WA before moving to China to teach English. In returning to the states, she came to San Francisco to complete the TESOL program at UC Berkeley Extension. With a love for teaching and traveling, she also enjoys spending time with family and friends, practicing yoga, and exploring the city. Kimberly’s interest in epilepsy relates to her personal experience. She has joined our group with the interest of providing support and assistance within the community. If you would like to learn more about her journey in living with epilepsy and receiving treatment through UCSF, you can watch her TV episode called “Rebooting Kimberly’s Brain”.