Clinical Neurophysiology with Emphasis in EEG/Epilepsy

The objective for this one-year position in Clinical Neurophysiology with emphasis in EEG/Epilepsy is to obtain a broad education in the clinical, electrodiagnostic, and pathophysiological aspects of epilepsy. The program provides a strong foundation in general Clinical Neurophysiology so participating fellows are eligible for examination/certification in Epilepsy through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) and Clinical Neurophysiology with Added Competency in Epilepsy Monitoring through the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology (ABCN). In addition to general training in all areas of Clinical Neurophysiology (see description of the General Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship), this fellowship emphasizes neurophysiological applications in epilepsy diagnosis and therapy. A second year of dedicated training in Epilepsy can be arranged through the ACGME accredited Epilepsy Fellowship Program. Didactic instruction and laboratory experience emphasize routine and ambulatory EEG, video-EEG monitoring (in diagnostic and presurgical applications), EEG monitoring in the ICU, evoked potentials (including intra-operative monitoring), and functional mapping with direct cortical electrical stimulation. Training in clinic settings emphasizes epilepsy diagnosis and therapy, with exposure to other paroxysmal and persistent disorders of consciousness, cognition and behavior. Emory University serves as a major tertiary referral center for patients with epilepsy for Atlanta and the Southeast.  The faculty provides internationally recognized expertise in epilepsy and seizure disorders.

Clinical services offered by the faculty include:

• Epilepsy clinic at the Brain Health Initiative, including dedicated neurostimulation clinic (>15,000 encounters per year, including encounters in dedicated neurostimulation clinic)
• Outpatient (>1100 routine and 330 ambulatory EEGs/year) EEG at Brain Health Initiative and inpatient routine/stat EEG at Emory Main Campus Hospital (>850 cases/year)  and Emory Midtown Hospital (>530 cases/year)
• Epilepsy monitoring unit at Emory Main Campus Hospital, including dedicated intracranial EEG service (>1600 patient days/year, including 50 intracranial cases, leading to approximately 50 laser ablations/resections and 12 responsive neurostimulation placements per year)
• ICU EEG monitoring at Emory Main Campus Hospital (>1650 patient days/year)
• ICU EEG monitoring at Emory Midtown Hospital (>700 patient days per year)
• Epilepsy rotation at Grady Hospital including Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (>60 patients/year), continuous ICU EEG monitoring (>650 patients/year), routine inpatient and outpatient EEGs (>1600 cases/year) and ambulatory EEGs (>50 cases/year).
• Epilepsy Clinic at Grady Hospital (>450 patients/year)

Fellows spend approximately 10 months of their time split between the Emory Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (3 months) the Emory ICU EEG Monitoring Unit (3 months), the Emory Epilepsy Clinic (1 month), Pediatric (1 month) and Grady (2 months). Trainees spend the remaining 2 months with the EMG Division at which time they have dedicated exposure to outpatient EMG clinics, inpatient and outpatient EMG, as well as associated clinical conferences.  Our program additionally includes exposure to evoked potential/intraoperative monitoring (EP/IOM) for interested trainees (>700 cases/year at Emory hospitals and 120 cases/year at Grady hospital).

Didactic conferences include the following:

• Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship Lecture Series (Tuesday and Thursday mornings, July-October)
• Weekly Combined Neurophysiology Conference at Brain Health Center Executive Park 12 (Thursday mornings, October-June)
• Weekly Epilepsy surgery conference (Tuesday mornings, adult and pediatric)
• Weekly EMG Conference at Executive Park 12 (Friday mornings, September-June)
• Weekly Epilepsy lectures (Tuesday mornings, includes Journal Club and Chapter Review Sessions)
• Weekly Neurology Grand Rounds at Executive Park 12 (Friday mornings, September - June)

Fellows are additionally offered the annual American Clinical Neurophysiology Society In-Service Exam.

Research opportunities include genetics and epilepsy, brain imaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation, studies of epilepsy in special populations (pregnancy, childhood syndromes, and the elderly), EEG monitoring in the ICU, cognitive effects of epilepsy, studies of antiepileptic therapies (drugs, surgical resection, and neurostimulation) novel surgical diagnostic (stereo EEG) and therapeutic (laser ablation, responsive neurostimulation) modalities. We also offer a CNP Fellowship with emphasis in pediatric epilepsy. Click here for more details. Opportunities for conference attendance and poster presentations:  American Epilepsy Society, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Academy of Neurology, Kiffin Penry Mini-fellowship, Southern Epilepsy and EEG Society and CHOA Stereo-EEG Conference.