Epilepsy Fellowships

The MUSC Epilepsy Fellowship program offers trainees exposure to a wide variety of pediatric and adult epilepsy cases. As the only level 4 Epilepsy Center in the state of South Carolina, MUSC is a referral center for a large geographic area including South Carolina, southern North Carolina, and northeastern Georgia. Our fellows are therefore able to gain experience in the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with both straightforward and refractory cases of epilepsy. This fellowship includes experience in both the inpatient and outpatient setting, including experience in the care and treatment of epilepsy surgical patients with a wide variety of surgical procedures. As part of the fellowship, fellows will also gain experience in the interpretation of routine, intracranial, and long term monitoring EEG studies.

Highlights

  • Level 4 NAEC Epilepsy Center – the only one in South Carolina.
  • 6 hard wired adult epilepsy monitoring unit beds, with 2 additional portable epilepsy monitoring unit beds, admitting over 20 patients each month.
  • 4 hard wired pediatric epilepsy monitoring unit beds, admitting 12 to 14 patients each month.
  • Busy ICU EEG program, with 8 to 16 adult and 4 to 8 pediatric ICU EEGs per day.
  • Outpatient continuity epilepsy clinics.
  • 5 to 8 routine EEGs per day.
  • High adult and pediatric epilepsy surgical volume, including experience with:
    • Stereo EEG
    • Intracranial grids, strips, & depth electrodes (Phase II electrocorticography)
    • NeuroPace
    • Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS)
    • Laser ablation (Visualase)
  • Clinical trial experience.
  • Research and quality improvement experiences.
  • Remote access to EEG, patient records, and imaging studies.
  • 30 to 40 Wada studies per year.
  • Introductory neurophysiology and epilepsy lecture series 3 times per week over the first 6 months of fellowship.
  • Monthly journal club.
  • Bimonthly “Epilepsy Grand Rounds” presentation on topics of scientific interest in epilepsy.
  • Ketogenic and modified Atkins Diet for Epilepsy program.
  • Monthly review of challenging EEG cases.
  • Opportunities for electives in research, intra-operative monitoring, neuro-radiology, neuro-psychology, and other fields.
  • Board certified attendings.
  • One year program (may be combined with clinical neurophysiology fellowship for a two year program).
  • Program in Charleston – recently rated Conde Naste’s #1 Travel Destination for the 3rd Year in a row.

Faculty

Adult Epilepsy

Leonardo F. Bonilha, M.D., Ph.D.
Jonathan C. Edwards, M.D.
Jonathan Halford, M.D.
Ekrem Kutluay, M.D.
Paul Pritchard III, M.D.
Sarah Schmitt, M.D.

Pediatric Epilepsy

David J. Walsh, M.D.