Electives

Epilepsy fellows have two rotations dedicated to electives. Fellows will have the opportunity to pick 4-weeks experiences in any of the following:

• Research,
• Outpatient Clinic Rotation,
• Core rotations (Pediatric EMU/EEG, LTM (c-EEG), or Adult EMU/EEG) will also be offered as an alternative elective rotation.

Scholarly Activity

The fellowship primarily relies on case-based learning to achieve its objectives and goals. Learning through clinical experience and one-to-one interactions with faculty is a primary teaching method. This is accompanied by learning epilepsy knowledge through lectures, weekly and monthly conferences, and various teaching experiences. Self-directed learning using textbooks, reviews, original research reports and web-based learning will be part of learning methods for the fellow. The fellow will be involved in multiple educational, research and quality improvement activity. Examples of the activities will include analysis of care of acute seizures, status epilepticus, and safety in the EMU. The fellow will be expected to participate in devising and implementing strategies for improved care.  The Epilepsy fellow will present challenging cases at weekly Epilepsy Conferences attended by epilepsy faculty, residents, and epilepsy surgeons. Fellows will be expected to expertly identify and analyze medical literature relevant to the case and to formulate diagnostic and treatment plans for the case. Feedback will be provided by the faculty.  Fellow may participate in and conduct a clinical research project that relates to a specific area of epilepsy. The trainee may select an area of research in conjunction with the training director and will then select a research mentor. The trainee may conduct the research project under the supervision of the mentor. The trainee may present the results of the research project at a Section seminar at the end of training. The trainee is encouraged to develop the data to be presented in abstract or manuscript form.  The fellow will also be involved in many activities during which they demonstrate their interpersonal and communication skills. A common and challenging example will be communicating the diagnosis of nonepileptic seizures in meetings with patients and their families in the EMU. These meetings are a forum that requires excellent communication skills (especially in lay terms), empathy, manners, and tact to best convey the result. A particular advantage to our multiple training sites is that the fellow gain experience in caring for patients from a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. 

Examination

Fellows will have ample opportunity to prepare for the ABPN board examinations over the course of the year through didactics and practice examinations. Fellows are scheduled to take an in house in-service examination developed by our faculty in December as well as the AES Epilepsy Fellowship In-Service Training examination (EPIFITE) in March as preparation for the boards.