Epilepsy Fellowship Program
Overview
A one-year clinical fellowship provides exposure to electroencephalogram (EEG), video-EEG monitoring, epilepsy surgery, evoked potentials and sleep. All aspects of EEG are emphasized, including neonatal, pediatric and adult EEG.
A two-year clinical/research fellowship combines 12 months of clinical work with 12 months of clinical, translational or basic science research. A wide variety of excellent research mentors are available.
Fellowship training program director
Division chief
Research expectations and opportunities
The fellow who elects to enroll in the two-year program has substantial protected time in order to develop independent research efforts. This research time is spent in conjunction with an experienced research mentor. Past fellows have completed both clinical research and basic science research projects. The research fellowship has a successful track record in leading to NIH career development awards.
General information on outcomes of fellows
All graduates of our fellowship program have secured positions at academic institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania, University of California at San Francisco, University of Michigan, University of Massachusetts, State University of New York, Oregon Health Sciences University, Loma Linda University and Landspitali University Hospital in Iceland.
Clinical activities
The Division currently has 31 neurologists, with 12 specializing in pediatric epilepsy. The Pediatric Epilepsy Program, within the Division of Neurology, offers a comprehensive array of epilepsy services, including epilepsy surgery, the ketogenic diet, experimental anti-epileptic drug (AED) studies, PET, functional MRI and MEG. The epilepsy program is very much a team effort - with active representatives from neuroradiology, neuropsychology, nuclear medicine, neurosurgery and neuropathology. Currently, the Hospital has 18 video-EEG units for clinical use, with two additional units dedicated to research. The Division performs more than 5,000 routine EEGs each year and more than 3,000 patient days of video-EEG monitoring. Learn more about the clinical activities of the Division of Neurology and the Pediatric Epilepsy Program.
Curriculum
The educational curriculum is designed to provide intensive exposure to all aspects of epilepsy, with an emphasis on neonatal, pediatric and adult EEG. While on clinical rotations at Children's Hospital, the fellow works in conjunction with an attending to interpret routine and video EEG's. The fellow plays an active role in the evaluation of potential candidates for epilepsy surgery. The fellow also works in conjunction with neurology attendings in the outpatient management of epilepsy patients. Other rotations at Children's Hospital and affiliated hospitals include functional neuro-imaging, sleep, EMG, adult EEG and evoked potentials.
Conference schedule
Schedule (Monday - Friday)
Every Weekday
- 8 - 10 a.m. – Epilepsy monitoring unit reading and rounds
- 3:30 - 5 p.m. – Routine EEG reading session
Monday
- Noon – Epilepsy monitoring unit record review
Tuesday
- Noon – Routine EEG record review
- 4:30 p.m. – University of Pennsylvania Epilepsy Center surgical case conference
Wednesday
- 8 a.m. – Pediatric Grand Rounds
- 4 p.m. – University of Pennsylvania Epilepsy Center Journal Club
Thursday
- 8 a.m. – Clinical neuroscience conference
- 1 p.m. – Pediatric Epilepsy Program surgical case conference
- 4 p.m. – Neurology Grand Rounds
Friday
- Noon – Clinical neurophysiology core lecture series
How to apply
The Pediatric Epilepsy Fellowship Program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia offers 3 clinical epilepsy positions per year through the NRMP match.
All candidates must apply through ERAS to be eligible. Please see ERAS for application requirements.
If you have any questions at any time during the application process, please contact Ashley Rees-Jones at (215) 590-1722 or by email at reesjonesa@chop.edu.
To carry out its mission, it is of critical importance for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to keep our patients, families and workforce safe and healthy and to support the health of our global community. CHOP requires all workforce members and trainees who work in patient care buildings or who provide patient care to receive an annual influenza vaccine. Employees may request exemption consideration for CHOP vaccine requirements for valid religious and medical reasons. Please note start dates may be delayed until candidates are fully immunized or valid exemption requests are reviewed. In addition, candidates other than those in positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, must attest to not using tobacco products.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. CHOP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or any other legally protected categories in any employment, training, or vendor decisions or programs. CHOP recognizes the critical importance of a workforce rich in varied backgrounds and experiences and engages in ongoing efforts to achieve that through equally varied and non-discriminatory means.