2024 Freeman and Kelly Awards
Chair – Eric Kossoff MD
Committee: Jong Rho MD, Carl Stafstrom MD, Philip Holt MD, Liu Lin Thio MD, PhD, Heidi Pfeifer RD, Kevin Rathke RD, Natasha Schoeler RD.
2023 POLICY FOR NOMINATING CANDIDATES AND CHOOSING AWARDEES FOR THE JOHN FREEMAN AND MILLICENT KELLY AWARDS
Presented at the Biennial Global Ketogenic Therapies Symposia
The current popularity of the ketogenic diet – now a standard and scientifically validated treatment for medically intractable epilepsy – would not have been possible without the passionate and enduring efforts of two giants in the field of ketogenic therapies – Dr. John Freeman, former Director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and his stalwart and fiercely devoted dietitian, Millicent Kelly.
Their persistent efforts to offer the ketogenic diet to multitudes of patients over the years, and their unflagging belief and conviction in the often-ridiculed dietary treatments for pharmaco-resistant epilepsy, set the stage for the current expansive generation of healthcare professionals, researchers and advocates throughout the world. Indeed, there exists much excitement and promise for expanding and refining dietary and metabolism-based therapies for epilepsy and other neurological disorders as we move into the second century of growth.
It will be said by historians that the saga of the ketogenic diet has been unlike anything in the history of clinical medicine. In honor of their seminal contributions to the field of ketogenic therapies, INKS has maintained awards named after Dr. Freeman and Ms. Kelly which are bestowed on remarkable professionals at each biennial Global Symposia on Ketogenic Therapies for Neurological Disorders.
These awards are intended to honor physicians and dietitians, respectively, who are recognized for impactful contributions to the field of ketogenic therapies, but most importantly, those who have carried the torch with the same spirit and dedication as Dr. Freeman and Ms. Kelly.
Beth Zupec-Kania RD, recipient of the Millicent Kelly award, San Diego 2024.
PRIOR WINNERS
2014 – Elizabeth Thiele
2016 – Eric Kossoff, Heidi Pfeifer
2018 – Jong Rho, Eunjoo Lee
2021 – Helen Cross, Elles van der Louw
2023 – Janak Nathan, Beth Zupec-Kania
Dr Janak Nathan, recipient of the John Freeman award, San Diego 2024
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