Epilepsy

Epilepsy Fellowship Program

Overview

Our ACGME-accredited Epilepsy fellowship has been training outstanding clinicians and academic leaders in the practice of epilepsy for more than 15 years. We accept 4 clinical fellows each year, and fellowship training may last from one to three years depending upon individual career plans and needs of the fellow.

The Penn Epilepsy Center (PEC) is a member of the National Association of Epilepsy Centers and our fellowship program provides training to individuals interested in specializing in the care and treatment of epilepsy patients.

The Penn Epilepsy Center is a Level 4 Epilepsy Center currently serving a growing network of 7 hospitals, with 8 faculty, and it is rapidly expanding. We have active programs in:

Epilepsy Surgery (>80 last year, including devices, stereo EEG and grids/strips)
Clinical trials
Implantable devices, including NeuroPace® and Visualase®
International medicine
Quality of care in collaboration with the Wharton School of Business

Fellows are guaranteed funding for 2 years, including an in-depth research experience supported by two NIH-funded T32 training grants. Optional training in secondary degrees (Master's in Translational Research, Epidemiology, or Bioengineering) is available. Finally, Fellows may opt for a third year of research, leading to application for an NIH K-award. Those interested primarily in clinical careers can take advantage of a wide variety of augmented training in our network in Philadelphia and abroad, and extended training at the Instructor/entry faculty level, to solidify their clinical skills.

Fellowship Curriculum

Clinical fellows in our program evaluate and care for epilepsy patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Our Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and our active epilepsy surgical program provide a means for fellows to learn how to evaluate and refer patients for epilepsy surgery and device implantation.

Fellows gain experience in interpretation of outpatient and inpatient EEG as well as long-term EEG monitoring of intensive care unit patients and intracranial and intraoperative EEG monitoring. The Fellows participate in Wada testing and intracranial electrode stimulation with functional cortical mapping.

Fellows are expected to master the principles of clinical neurophysiology including properties of bioelectrical generators, electricity and electronics, and signal analysis. It is expected that all fellows will be actively involved in a research project during the 2 year fellowship.

Alumni

Penn’s fellowship has a long track record of training candidates for successful careers as clinicians, clinician-educators and clinician-scientists, including world leaders in epilepsy research and clinical care. Fellows are invited to augment clinical training with in-depth research, education and extended clinical experiences, including internationally.

Allan Azarion, MD (2013): Epileptologist, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Group, Gaithersburg, MD
Mesha-Gay Brown, MD (2014): Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Colorado
Stephanie Chen, MD (2016): Neurologist, Baltimore area
Kathryn Davis, MD (2009): Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania
Simon Glynn, MD (2008): Assistant Professor of Neurology and Bioengineering, UMichigan
Michael Gelfand, MD, PhD (2015): Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology, UPenn
Sonia Krish, MD (2016): Neurological Institute of New York, NYP, New York
Ram Mani, MD (2011): Assistant Professor of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Univ Hospital
Douglas Maus, MD, PhD (2008): Dept. of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
Brian Oommen, MD (2011): Pinnacle Health Neurosurgery and Neurosciences Inst, Harrisburg
Jonathan Pollard, MD (2006): Neurologist, Christiana Care Health System
Mijail Serruya, MD, PhD ( ): Assistant Professor of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University
William Stacey, MD, PhD (2010): Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Michigan
Stephen Wong, MD (2008): Associate Professor of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson University

As William Stacey, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Bioengineering at the University of Michigan, explains,

“Penn provided an ideal environment for diverse training in clinical epileptology, leading the cutting edge on many aspects of EEG and patient care. In addition, there were tremendous opportunities for funded translational research, which were instrumental in establishing my own academic career.”

Application Process

Our program has been matched for our July 2022 start date. The Penn Epilepsy Fellowship will begin accepting applications for our July 2023 start date on September 1, 2021. Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2022. Candidates will be selected on a rolling basis, early submission is encouraged. Please email the application materials below to PennNeuroFellowships@uphs.upenn.edu

Application Materials:

CV
Personal Statement explaining your interests in Epilepsy
USMLE Scores
photo
Three Letters of Recommendation.

Please have your references email their Letter of Recommendation to PennNeuroFellowships@uphs.upenn.edu. We require three Letters of Recommendation.

Thank you for your interest in our program!

Epilepsy Faculty

Jay Pathmanathan, MD, PhD

Fellowship Program Director
Interests: Epilepsy, Seizures
Faculty Profile

Brian Litt, MD

Epilepsy Division Chief
Interests: Epilepsy Anti-epileptic medications, Electroencephalogram, seizures
Faculty Profile

Kathryn Davis, MD

Associate Director, Penn Epilepsy Center
Interests: Epilepsy Anti-epileptic medications, Electroencephalogram, seizures
Faculty Profile

Colin Ellis, MD

Assistant Professor of Neurology
Faculty Profile

Michael Gelfand, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
Interests: Drug Resistant Epilepsy, Electrophysiology Testing, Epilepsy & Pregnancy, EEGs
Faculty Profile

Gordon Baltuch, MD, PhD

Professor of Neurosurgery
Interests: Brain Tumors, Epilepsy, Spine Surgery
Faculty Profile

Ramya Raghupathi, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
Faculty Profile