Welcome to our online literary event, Migraine & Headache Disease Voices! Join us for a unique gathering where five authors share their experiences with migraine and cluster headache disease through their published book. Discover the diverse voices and perspectives of those who navigate life with migraine. This event is a safe space for sharing, learning, and connecting with others who understand the challenges of living with migraine and headache disorders. Come be a part of this supportive community and celebrate the power of the written word in raising awareness about migraine.
This session will include brief talks and a Q&A discussion with:
- Tom Zeller, Jr. - The HEADACHE - The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction -- and a Search for Relief
- Lisa Benson - Dear Migraine
- Jaime Sanders - More Than Migraine: A Journey Through Pain, Advocacy, and Hope
- Egilius L.H. Spierings, MD, PhD - Headaches: why you have them – what you can do about them
- Joanna Kempner, PhD - Psychedelic Outlaws: The Movement Revolutionizing Modern Medicine
Attendees will be entered into a raffle with one signed copy of each of these books.
Tom Zeller Jr.
Egilius L.H. Spierings, MD, PhD
Lisa Benson
Lisa Benson is a sculptor, writer and advocate for migraine awareness. She cares about awareness since she was undiagnosed for over twenty years, which allowed her migraines to worsen over time. Finally diagnosed in 2011 and living with chronic migraine, she worked hard to educate herself and navigate the medical world to find effective treatment for her condition, though this is ever changing. She has 10 plus years experience as a professional sculptor at Skylight Studios, Inc, and the Caproni Collection and has written over 100 articles on migraine.com. For advocacy, she presented at Retreat Migraine 2020 and 2022, and volunteers for Headache on the Hill and Miles for Migraine.
Jaime Sanders
Jaime Sanders is an author and blogger dedicated to advocating for individuals living with invisible illnesses, with a particular focus on headaches and migraines. Drawing from her personal experiences, she works to raise awareness and foster understanding about these often-debilitating conditions. Through her writing, she provides support and resources for those affected, helping to amplify their voices and build a sense of community. Jaime’s journey into advocacy began with her own struggles with chronic migraine, giving her firsthand insight into the challenges faced by others with similar conditions. This experience ignited her passion for education and outreach, leading her to create platforms that offer guidance, encouragement, and validation. By sharing both her story and the stories of others, she aims to empower individuals navigating life with invisible illnesses and inspire greater empathy and action across society.
Joanna Kempner, PhD
Joanna Kempner is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University where she studies science, medicine, and inequality. Her work on health and justice, stigma in medicine, and the political suppression of science attempts to give a voice to those we rarely hear from. Her writing addresses the lack of effective treatments for pain, gender, race and stigma, and the extraordinary lengths that people will go to in order to find relief. She is the author of the award-winning book, Not Tonight: Migraine and the Politics of Gender and Health (Chicago), and is currently writing about cluster headache patient-led efforts to bring psychedelics back to medicine. Her research can also be read in a wide-range of academic and popular publications, including Science, PLoS Medicine, Social Science & Medicine, and Migraine.com.