Mark P. Fitzgerald, MD, PhD

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Mark P. Fitzgerald, MD, PhD, is a pediatric neurologist in the Division of Neurology and the Medical Director of the Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Areas of Expertise: Neonatal and early life epilepsies, Genetic epilepsy
Locations: Main Hospital; Specialty Care, King of Prussia; Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care; Specialty Care, Bryn Mawr

Appointments and Referrals: 1-800-TRY-CHOP (1-800-879-2467)

Background

Mark P. Fitzgerald, MD, PhD, is an attending pediatric neurologist in the Division of Neurology and the Medical Director of the Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). He has a special interest in treating infants and very young children with epilepsy.

Dr. Fitzgerald’s philosophy of care is centered on listening closely to families’ needs and concerns, and providing the information and resources to help them make the best decisions for their child.

“I want every family to be able to leave a visit with me and feel like each one of their concerns was heard, and they had all of their questions completely answered,” Dr. Fitzgerald says. “Children with neurological concerns can be complex and challenging, which is why it is extremely important for caregivers to understand their child's condition, treatment options and what possible outcomes to expect.”

Along with his work at CHOP, Dr. Fitzgerald is a Clinical Associate of Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

His research focuses on neurodevelopmental and epilepsy outcomes in children who experienced a lack of oxygen to the brain as newborns. He also studies responses to treatments in a variety of genetic epilepsies.

Dr. Fitzgerald is particularly excited about promising new ways of diagnosing and customizing treatment for children with epilepsy that is difficult to control.

“It is the start of an exciting time in epilepsy, as our evolving knowledge is beginning to lead to precision therapies for certain genetic epilepsies,” Dr. Fitzgerald says.

Education and Training

Medical School

MD - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Residency

Child Neurology - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA (Chief Resident)
Pediatrics - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Fellowship

Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Board Certification

Child Neurology – American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Neurology – American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Graduate Degree

PhD in Neuroscience - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Titles and Academic Titles

Attending Physician

Medical Director, Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN)

Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Departments and Services

Publications

Papers

2019

Fitzgerald MP, Donnelly M, Vala L, Allen-Napoli L, and Abend NS. (2019). Collodion remover can degrade plastic-containing medical devices commonly used in the intensive care unit. The Neurodiagnostic Journal. 59(3):163-168.

Fitzgerald MP, Fiannacca M, Smith DM, Gertler TS, Gunning B, Syrbe S, Verbeek N, Stamberger S, Weckhuysen S, Ceulemans B, Schoonjans AS, Rossi M, Demarquay G, Lesca G, Olofsson K, Koolen DA, Hornemann F, Baulac S, Rubboli G, Minks KQ, Lee B, Helbig I, Dlugos D, Møller RS, Bearden D (2019). Treatment responsiveness in KCNT1-related epilepsy. Neurotherapeutics. 16(3): 848-857.

2018

Fitzgerald MP, Massey SL, Fung FW, Kessler SK, and Abend NS. (2018) High electroencephalographic seizure exposure is associated with unfavorable outcomes in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Seizure. 61: 221-6.

Gardella E, Marini C, Trivisano M, Fitzgerald MP, Alber M, Siliquini S, Howell KB, Darra F, Bolsterli B, Masnada S, Pichiecchio A, Johannesen K, Jepsen BS, Elena F, Anibaldi G, Russo S, Cogliati F, Montomoli M, Rubboli G, Specchio N, Veggiotti P, Benikzky S, Wolff M, Helbig I, Vigevano F, Scheffer IE, Guerrini R, and Moller RS. (2018). The phenotype of SCN8A developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Neurology. DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000006199

Abend NS, Wiebe DJ, Xiao R, Massey SL, Fitzgerald MP, Fung F, and Topjian AA (2018). EEG factors after pediatric cardiac arrest. J Clin Neurophysiol. 35: 251–255.

2017

Fitzgerald MP, Kessler SK, and Abend NS. Early discontinuation of anti-seizure medications in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Epilepsia. 2017 Jun;58(6):1047-1053. doi: 10.1111/epi.13745. Epub 2017 Apr 12.

Fitzgerald MP and Ryan N. An updated, evidence-based clinician’s guide to the evaluation and treatment of West syndrome. Curr Pediatr Rep. DOI: 10.1007/s40124-017-0123-x.

2015

Sharma S, Lerman M, Fitzgerald MP, and Ruebner R. Acute psychosis presenting in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: Questions & Answers. Pediatr Nephrol. 2016 Feb;31(2):227-31. doi: 10.1007/s00467-015-3052-3. Epub 2015 Jan 30.

2011

Fitzgerald MP, Covio M, and Lee KS. (2011). Disturbances in the positioning, proliferation, and apoptosis of neural progenitors contribute to subcortical band heterotopia formation. Neuroscience. 2011 Mar 10;176:455-71. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.12.003. Epub 2010 Dec 9.

2004

Hogan TP, Wyckoff LA, Krebs P, Jones W, Fitzgerald MP. (2004). Tolerance for error and computational estimation ability. Psychol Rep. 94(3 Pt2): 1393-1403.

Abstracts

2018

Fung FW, Jacobwitz M, Vala L, Donnelly M, Fitzgerald MP, Massey S, Martinez A, Topjian A, and Abend NS. (2018). Electroencephalographic characteristics of seizures in critically ill children undergoing continuous EEG monitoring – an interim analysis. American Clinical Neurophysiology Society. Cambridge, MA.

2017

Abend NS, Massey S, Fitzgerald MP, Fung F, Atkin NJ, Xiao R, and Topjian AA. (2017). Interrater variability of EEG interpretation after pediatric cardiac arrest utilizing standardized critical care EEG terminology. American Epilepsy Society. Washington, DC.

Massey S, Clancy R, DiGiovine M, Fitzgerald MP, Fung F, Shou H, Farrar J, and Abend NS. (2017). Inter-rater agreement in neonatal electroencephalogram background scoring. American Epilepsy Society. Washington, DC.

Fitzgerald MP, Smith DM, Moller RS, Fiannacca M, McGinnis E, Gunning B, Rubboli G, Syrbe S, Brilstra E, Picard F, Stamberger H, Weckhuysen S, Striano P, Baglietto MG, Verbeek NE, Barolomei F, Lesca G, Maurey H, Nava C, Hirsch E, Baulac S, Ceulemans B, Schoonjans AS, Helbig I, Dlugos D, and Bearden D (2017). Response to treatment in patients with KCNT1-related epilepsy. American Epilepsy Society. Washington, DC.

Fitzgerald MP, Massey SL, Fung F, Kessler SK, Abend NS. (2017). Seizures and developmental outcomes in neonates with HIE. American Epilepsy Society. Washington, DC.

Books

2009

Trotter SA, Fitzgerald MP, Lee KS. The tish rat: an animal model of cortical malformation in the study of epilepsy.  In: Schwartzkroin PA, editor. Encyclopedia of Basic Epilepsy Research. Oxford: Elsevier; 2009.

Calisaneller T, Lin C-L, Ukita N, Yoshimura R, Wang Y, Fitzgerald MP, and Lee KS. A blood injection model of subarachnoid hemorrhage in the mouse. In: Chen J, Xu X, Xu ZC, Zhang J, editors. Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries. New Jersey: Humana Press; 2009.

Posters and Presentations

2017

Fitzgerald MP. Early Discontinuation of Anti-seizure Medications in Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy. Presented at: Neonatal SIG, American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting; 2017 Dec; Houston TX.

Fitzgerald MP. KCNT1-related Epilepsy: The Quinidine Story. Presented at: American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting, Dec. 2017, Washington, D.C.

Fitzgerald MP, Massey SL, Fung F, Kessler SK, Abend NS.  Seizures and developmental outcomes in neonates with HIE. American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting, Dec. 2017, Washington, D.C.

Fitzgerald MP, Smith DM, Moller RS, Fiannacca M, McGinnis E, Gunning B, Rubboli G, Syrbe S, Brilstra E, Picard F, Stamberger H, Weckhuysen S, Striano P, Baglietto MG, Verbeek NE, Barolomei F, Lesca G, Maurey H, Nava C, Hirsch E, Baulac S, Ceulemans B, Schoonjans AS, Helbig I, Dlugos D, and Bearden D. Response to treatment in patients with KCNT1-related epilepsy. American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting, Dec. 2017, Washington, D.C.

Massey S, Clancy R, Digiovine M, Fitzgerald MP, Fung F, Shou H, Farrar J, Abend N.  Inter-rater agreement in neonatal electroencephalogram background scoring. American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting, Dec. 2017, Washington, D.C.

Abend NS, Massey S, Fitzgerald MP, Fung F, Atkin NJ, Xiao R, Topjian AA. Interrater variability of EEG interpretation after pediatric cardiac arrest utilizing standardized critical care EEG terminology. American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting, Dec. 2017, Washington, D.C.

Invited Lectures

2018

Fitzgerald MP. “Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: pitfalls in outcome prediction”. Clinical Neuroscience Conference, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Nov 2018.

2017

Fitzgerald MP. “KCNT1-related Epilepsy: the Quinidine Story”. Genetics SIG, American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting, Washington DC. Dec 2017.

Fitzgerald MP. “Precision Medicine in Pediatric Epilepsy: From Bench to Bedside and Back”. Presentation at University of Scranton Medical Alumni Council Meeting, Scranton PA. Oct 2017.

Awards and Honors

  • 2009, Eric W. Lothman Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement in Neuroscience, University of Virginia
  • 2002, Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities
  • 2002, Lawrence J. Lennon Award for Outstanding Service and Achievement in Psychology, University of Scranton
  • 2002, Excellence in Psychology Award, University of Scranton
  • 2002, Excellence in Neuroscience Award, University of Scranton

Editorial and Academic Positions

Editorial Positions

2019-present, Reviewer, Neuropediatrics
2018-present, Reviewer, Journal of Pediatric Neurology

Academic and Institutional Committees

2015-present, ICU Neurology Advisory Committee, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Leadership and Memberships

Memberships in Professional Organizations

2015-present, American Epilepsy Society

2013-present, American Academy of Neurology