Epilepsy Fellowship Program
Overview

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 evaluation and management of patients with epilepsy or concern for epilepsy.
- Epilepsy Surgery (>80 procedures last year, including phase II monitoring with stereo EEG and subdural electrodes, implantable devices, resections and laser ablations)
- Outpatient epilepsy, including specialty clinics for epilepsy genetics, neuromodulation, transitioning care from pediatrics to adult, tuberous sclerosis and others
- Clinical trials - medications and devices
- Implantable devices, including RNS, DBS and VNS
- International medicine
- Quality of care in collaboration with the Wharton School of Business
Fellows have the option for additional training beyond the one-year Epilepsy fellowship. This may include an additional clinical year (for trainees pursuing a career in academic clinical epilepsy or epilepsy surgery), in-depth research experience supported by NIH-funded T32 training grants, and other combinations depending on trainee interest. 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 also 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 (currently 8 beds) 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. This includes very active intracranial EEG program, including functional brain mapping. In addition, there is an active long-term monitoring/ICU EEG program which covers 4 hospitals in downtown Philadelphia, including advanced techniques such as quantitative EEG and intracranial depth electrodes for traumatic brain injury. Fellows also participate in the outpatient management of patients with epilepsy (or concern for epilepsy) by co-managing patients in attending clinics as well as their own longitudinal clinic. The outpatient EEG laboratory is very active and offers routine, prolonged and ambulatory EEG studies at multiple locations.
In addition to the above, fellows rotate at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for pediatric epilepsy and at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
A
critical aspect of our program is the active integration of clinical,
translational and basic research with the clinical programs. This includes
active research projects related to intracranial EEG, neuromodulation, neuroimaging,
genetics and others. Fellows have the opportunity to participate in these
projects based on their interests.
Dedicated didactic sessions include core lectures on epilepsy and EEG followed
by weekly conferences on EEG/Neurophysiology and Clinical Epilepsy. Active
participation by fellows is encouraged including case presentations, journal
clubs and presentation of projects. There is also a weekly Epilepsy Surgery
conference where the fellows present the vast majority of patients for
discussion, with active participation by neuroradiology and neuropsychology. Joint
conferences include the NeuroICU and pediatric epilepsy programs.

“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
- November 15, 2023 Applicants may begin submitting applications on ERAS
- December 6, 2023 Programs may begin reviewing applications on ERAS
- January-April 2024 Penn Epilepsy Fellowship Interviews
- May 3, 2023 Deadline for submitting rank order lists
- May 2024 Match Day
- July 1, 2025 First day of fellowship
- CV
- Personal Statement explaining your interests in Epilepsy
- USMLE Transcript
- Professional photo
- Three Letters of Recommendation.
Thank you for your interest in our program!
Epilepsy Faculty
Director, EEG Laboratories
Faculty Profile
Kathryn Davis, MD, MTR
Epilepsy Division ChiefMedical Director, Epilepsy Monitoring UnitMedical Director, Epilepsy Surgical Program
Interests: Epilepsy Anti-epileptic medications, Electroencephalogram, seizures
Interests: Epilepsy Anti-epileptic medications, Electroencephalogram, seizures
Faculty Profile
Director of Traumatic Brain Injury Clinical Research Center
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Faculty Profile
Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
Faculty Profile
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Faculty Profile
Ramya Raghupathi, MD
Faculty Profile