An independent film producer, Stanislaw will present his film “Living on the Edge” at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 9 am in the Harborview Medical Center Research & Training Building, 300 Ninth Avenue. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion of individuals living with epilepsy and UW Medicine professionals who treat seizure disorders.

“After that seizure at school, I felt closed out of society,” recalled Stanislaw. “Then one day my sister heard the chair for Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) talking on television about epilepsy research and I knew that there were people out there trying to help.”

In “Living on the Edge,” the filmmaker takes us through the challenge of life with epilepsy. Although it affects three million Americans directly, and millions more through family members, friends, co-workers and caregivers, epilepsy is widely and grossly misunderstood. Through the stories of the director and epilepsy patients and their families this documentary looks unflinchingly at the alienation, depression, and loneliness that epilepsy can bring.

Life with epilepsy can be unpredictable. Medicines that control seizures can have major side effects; seizures can be frightening and dangerous and can have devastating consequences. Deeply personal and honest, On The Edge examines this complex disorder and dispels the myths that surround it, to seek a path to understanding, effective treatment, and a cure.

“Living on the Edge” has been publicly screened at the Cleveland Clinic and at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of Art Institute of Chicago. For more information on the Nov. 9 event, go to the UW Medicine

To learn about the film, visit

UW faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a panel discussion on the “Affordable Care Act: How You Can Make a Difference,”  from  5 p.m.  to 6:30 p.m.,  Tuesday, Oct. 29, in  Hogness Auditorium at the UW Health Sciences Center.

Hosted by the UW’s six health sciences schools, the program will examine the Affordable Care Act’s impact on individual and public health. It also will cover local outreach efforts geared to those eligible for expanded Medicaid coverage or insurance offered through the Washington Health Benefits Exchange.

“We are focusing our efforts on how individuals can help make a difference during this time of reform,” said Dr. Mark Oberle, UW associate dean for research in the School of Public Health and professor of health services, epidemiology and global health. “We are encouraging people to reach out to friends, family and patients to make sure they know that coverage is available.”

Dr. Howard Frumkin, dean of the School of Public Health, will provide a historical perspective of the Affordable Care Act and will discuss how the new mandate will affect the health of the public. Joining Frumkin are attorney Sallie Sanford, UW assistant professor of law and adjunct assistant professor of health services, and Dr. Patrick O’Carroll, U.S. assistant surgeon general and regional health administrator for Region X.

“Sanford will summarize the basics of the law and provide an overview on coverage that will be available,” said Oberle. “O’Carroll will discuss how the law will affect clinical practice and the opportunities he sees for disease prevention.”

Representatives from the Washington Health Insurance Marketplace and Public Health-Seattle & King County will talk about outreach efforts so far, as well as those expected in the future.

“Washington is one of only 14 states that created its own health insurance exchange,” said Inderpal Virk, a physician who is a UW student in the  Masters of Public Health degree  program. He is doing his practicum with Public Health-Seattle & King County. “To date, we have been one of the most successful.  Although we are moving in the right direction, we need everyone to be part of the effort so that we do not skew enrollment to an older, sicker population.”

Of particular concern are young adults who, after age 26, are no longer eligible for their parents’ coverage.  Reaching the ‘young invincibles’ has been a particular challenge for the Washington Health Benefits Exchange. “In order for the system to work, we need those healthy young individuals to be part of the pool,” said Virk. “As part of our panel discussion, we will have UW students on hand to talk about their special concerns as it relates to health-care coverage.”

“This is an exciting time in our country,” Virk said. “It will take all of us working together to create healthy individuals and a healthier community.”

In some respects, you could call Lee Rhodes an “accidental” businesswoman. In 1998, physicians at UW Medical Center discovered that the pain in the new mother’s side wasn’t a pulled muscle. It was lung cancer. So began her battle with a cancer that recurred three times.

Rhodes spent many days receiving chemotherapy at UW Medical Center. While there she got to know others who were receiving treatment for various types of cancers. Some were not as lucky as she was. Because they had no money for transportation, they sometimes put off their chemotherapy. Rhodes was touched by their stories.

One night her husband brought her a beautiful hand-blown vessel that he had made in his glass blowing class.  Rhodes dropped in a tea light and the shimmering beauty of the reflected light and color was inspirational and soothing; it helped her heal.  And she had an idea.

In 2001, Rhodes hired Seattle artists to design and create hand-blown candle holders that she christened glassybaby. She also created the White Light Fund at UW Medical Center to help cancer patients with some of the day-to-day costs associated with cancer treatment that aren’t regularly covered by insurance. To date nearly $200,000 has been donated to the fund.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 17, , located at University Village, is holding a special sale for the UW.  Rhodes will be there to meet and greet visitors. The White Light Fund will be the recipient of 10 percent of all sales that day. With more than 70 artists working to create the tea light holders, glassybaby is now an international business with a special mission to help UW Medicine’s cancer patients.

“UW has a special place in the glassybaby story,” Rhodes said. “We have a great gratitude to the UW Medical Center.”

Watch the segment on Rhodes and her work with glassybaby and cancer philanthropy.