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Epilepsy Fellowship Program

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

Sudha Kilaru Kessler, MD

Division chief

Brenda Banwell, MD

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 is now a part of the NRMP national match program. We are currently offering:

  • Three (3) fellowship positions to begin in 2024

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. In keeping with this, CHOP has mandated all workforce members (including trainees) on site at any CHOP location for any portion of their time be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

This mandate also applies to workforce members or trainees performing work for CHOP at non-CHOP locations. Additionally, all workforce members based in or regularly scheduled to work at any New Jersey location are mandated to be both vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, with booster timing consistent with applicable guidelines. The CHOP COVID-19 vaccine mandate is in alignment with applicable local, state and federal mandates. CHOP also 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 opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected category. CHOP is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor seeking priority referrals for protected veterans.

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.
We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

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