The 2025 BEBRF Annual Symposium will take place at Sheraton Mission Valley Hotel in San Diego, CA on Friday, October 31st and Saturday, November 1st. The symposium will feature experts in the field of blepharospasm and related disorders. Topics will include diagnosis, treatments, and support resources. This year’s program director is David Peterson, PhD. There will be opportunities to ask questions and network with other patients and caregivers. The event is free and open to the public. Please contact the office at 409-832-0788 or email us at bebrf@blepharospasm.org to reserve your seat.
Sheraton Mission Valley San Diego Hotel
The Sheraton Mission Valley is just 7 miles from the airport and minutes away from San Diego’s top attractions—including Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, and vibrant downtown.
We can’t wait to see you in sunny San Diego!
🎃 Halloween Meet & Greet Trick or Treat 👻
Join us for a frightfully fun evening where costumes are encouraged, the food is free, and the connections are real. Whether you’re a new face or a familiar phantom, you’re invited to eat, drink, and be scary with a welcoming crowd of kindred spirits.
🍷 Cash Bar – Sip spooky spirits & chilling cocktails
🍕 Free Food – No tricks, just tasty treats
🧙 Costumes Welcome – Dress up or come as you are
💬 Connect & Celebrate – Meet others, share stories, build community
Let’s make some monster memories together!
2025 Program Director: David A. Peterson, PhD
Dr. Peterson is a member of the BEBRF Medical Advisory Board, an Associate Research Scientist at UC San Diego Institute for Neural Computation, and Director of the university’s Computational Neurology Center. He earned his PhD in Computer Science with a focus on neuroscience from Colorado State University and is a key member of the NIH-funded Dystonia Coalition.
His research applies computational neuroscience and machine learning to the study of movement disorders, aiming to improve outcomes for people with dystonia. Dr. Peterson’s work has advanced the understanding and objective measurement of blepharospasm and other focal dystonias, shaping more accurate assessments and paving the way for future treatments. He will be speaking on: Outcome Measures for Research
Matt Alavi, L.Ac., DIPL. OM, MSTOM, is a licensed acupuncturist and the founder of ActiveMed Integrative Health Center in Poway, California. He graduated from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and furthered his training at Chengdu Traditional Medical Hospital in China. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in pain management, sports medicine, orthopedics, and neurology. His expertise includes dry needling, acupuncture, and integrative therapies for various conditions. Matt has treated numerous athletes and individuals with complex health issues, emphasizing holistic approaches to healing. He has developed and directed multiple integrative medical centers across California and is a recognized educator in the field of integrative medicine. He will be speaking on the topic: Acupuncture for Dystonia.
Sharona Ben‑Haim, MD, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery at UC San Diego, specializing in epilepsy surgery and deep brain stimulation for movement disorders including dystonia and tremors. She earned her MD at UC San Diego, completed neurosurgery residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, with fellowship training at Yale, and a visiting fellowship in functional neurosurgery at the University of Oxford. She will be speaking on the topic: Deep Brain Stimulation for Blepharospasm and Dystonia.
Brian Berman, MD, MS, FAAN, current chair of the BEBRF Medical Advisory Board, is a Professor of Neurology at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is also the Director of VCU’s Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder Center. He joined VCU in September 2020 after a decade on faculty at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. During his time there, he diagnosed, cared for, and treated patients in the Movement Disorders Clinic at UCHealth and in the Neurology Clinic at the Denver Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center. Additionally, he served as the associate director of Research at the University of Colorado Movement Disorders Center. He will speaking on the topic: Non-invasive Neurostimulation for Blepharospasm and Dystonia.
Maria Laura Gomez Freeman, MD, OD, MAS, is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at UC San Diego’s Shiley Eye Institute and fellowship-certified in corneal diseases from UCSD. She has trained and worked internationally at the Barraquer Eye Institute in Colombia, the Castroviejo Institute in Spain, and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. She specializes in the evaluation and management of eyelid and ocular surface disorders relevant to blepharospasm and related movement disorders, and is experienced in refractive and general ophthalmology. She will be speaking on the topic: Dry Eye with Emphasis on Oils and Meibomian Glands.
Benjamin Frishberg, MD, is a neurologist at The Neurology Center of Southern California, focusing on neuro‑ophthalmology and movement disorders such as dystonia and blepharospasm. He earned his MD from the University of Minnesota and completed neurology residency at UC San Diego, followed by fellowship training at Emory University. He leads clinical research on neurological conditions and holds clinical faculty positions at UCSD and Touro University. He previously spoke at the 2013 San Diego BEBRF Symposium and will be speaking this year on the topic: A History and Overview of Clinical Management of Blepharospasm.
Jinyoung Kim, PhD candidate at UCLA, specializes in the biomechanics and neural control of eyelid function. His research, conducted in collaboration with the Samueli School of Engineering and the David Geffen School of Medicine, investigates segmental activation of the orbicularis oculi muscle, providing insights into blinking and eyelid movement with direct relevance to blepharospasm and other eyelid movement disorders. He has contributed to studies that inform the development of neuroprosthetic strategies to restore eyelid function in patients with paralysis or impaired eyelid control. He will be speaking on the topic: High Density Eyelid EMG (Electromyography).
Amy Lin, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurosciences at UC San Diego, specializing in movement disorders, including dystonia and blepharospasm. She completed her neurology residency at Washington University in St. Louis and a fellowship at UC San Diego. She cares for patients with dystonia, tremor, and Parkinson’s disease, and her research investigates brain changes in neurodevelopmental syndromes. She will be speaking on the topic: Blepharospasm in the Context of Multifocal and the Spread of Dystonia Over the Body.
Catherine Liu, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at UC San Diego, specializing in oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery for blepharospasm, ptosis, and orbital conditions. She earned her MD and PhD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, completed residency at UC Irvine, with fellowship training in ophthalmic plastic surgery at Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary. She also directs medical student education at the Shiley Eye Institute. She is speaking on the topic: Oculoplastic Surgery for Blepharospasm.
Angelique Pillar, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in eyelid and ocular surface disorders relevant to blepharospasm and related movement disorders. She earned her MD from Harvard Medical School, completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of Maryland (serving as Chief Resident), with a fellowship in corneal and refractive surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Pillar is affiliated with NVISION Eye Centers in San Diego, where she combines her surgical expertise with patient-centered care. She is speaking on the topic: Dry Eye as it Relates to Cataract and Refractive Surgeries.
BEBRF Annual Symposium
San Diego, CA | Sheraton Mission Valley Hotel
November 1, 2025
Program Director: David A. Peterson, PhD
8:30 Introduction — David A. Peterson, PhD
8:40 Blepharospasm Clinical Management: History and Overview — Benjamin Frishberg, MD
9:10 Blepharospasm in the Context of Multifocal Dystonia — Amy Lin, MD
9:40 Panel: Neurology
9:55 Break
10:10 Dry Eye: Oils and Meibomian Glands — Maria Laura Gomez Freeman, MD, OD, MAS
10:40 Dry Eye: Relation to Cataract and Refractive Surgery — Angelique Pillar, MD
11:10 Panel: Dry Eye
11:25 Oculoplastic Surgery for Blepharospasm — Catherine Liu, MD, PhD
11:55 Lunch
12:55 Deep Brain Stimulation for Dystonia — Sharona Ben Haim, MD
1:25 Panel: Surgery
1:40 Acupuncture for Dystonia — Matt Alavi, L.Ac., DIPL. OM, MSTOM
2:10 Non-invasive Neuro-stimulation for Dystonia — Brian Berman, MD, MS, FAAN
2:40 Panel: Non-surgical Stimulation
2:55 Break
3:10 Outcome Measures for Research — David A. Peterson, PhD
3:40 High-Density Eyelid EMG — Jinyoung Kim, PhD candidate
4:10 Panel: Phenomenology Measures
4:25 Raising Awareness, Support, and Advocacy — Charlene Hudgins
4:50 Conclusion
To view presentations from the 2024 BEBRF Annual Symposium at Duke University, please click here: 2024 BEBRF Symposium Playlist