SUDEP Action delighted to add Dr Rhys Thomas to Board
Dr Rhys Thomas has joined the Board of epilepsy charity SUDEP Action as a trustee.
Rhys is an honorary consultant in epilepsy at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he runs a busy epilepsy practice that includes a large epilepsy and intellectual disability clinic, with a particular focus on rare genetic epilepsies. He is also a consultant in the NHS Highly Specialised Service for rare mitochondrial disorders, where his interests include epilepsy and stroke-like episodes. He is the research lead for neurosciences and the chief investigator for several epilepsy drug studies across the UK, as well as overseeing neurotechnology studies in Newcastle.
Rhys joined Newcastle University in 2017 and is a reader in Epilepsy. His work focuses on the causes and consequences of epilepsy, and he has enjoyed a long and established working relationship with SUDEP Action, publishing with the charity on the Epilepsy Deaths Register. He holds a number of other representative roles, chief of which is being the current president of the British branch of the International League Against Epilepsy.
In his spare time, Rhys says he is ‘a keen runner, a poor ukulele player and an enthusiastic youth rugby referee’.
He said: “I’m incredibly proud to join SUDEP Action as a trustee. Having worked with the charity through research collaborations and the Epilepsy Deaths Register, I’ve seen first-hand the impact of their commitment to saving lives and improving epilepsy care. Their passion, authenticity, and focus on preventing avoidable deaths is inspiring, and I’m honoured to support their vital work.”
John Hirst, Chair of SUDEP Action, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Rhys to our Board of Trustees. He has been a supporter of the work of SUDEP Action for some time and I look forward to him having even more direct input to our work as a trustee. His work and reputation are remarkable, and he will add great strength to our Board.”
