Epilepsy Fellowship

Mission

The primary goal of the ACGME accredited Epilepsy fellowship program is to provide an organized and comprehensive educational experience addressing aspects of epilepsy medicine in inpatient, outpatient, and acute care settings. Under the direct supervision of highly-qualified faculty, fellow physicians will be provided ample time for clinical practice, instruction, and training. During this time, the fellow is able to develop the necessary skills and positive professional attitudes essential for the highest quality patient care and for independent practice. 

Training Model

Training will include all aspects of epilepsy including the equivalent of at least six month of full-time patient care in inpatient and outpatient epilepsy, a minimum of one month of elective time, and the remaining time should include addition experience in care of patients with epilepsy and seizures, or epilepsy research, or neuropsychology, or psychiatry, or neuroimaging.

Clinical Experience

The program is designed to foster the development of well-rounded, competent clinical and academic clinical epileptologists. The fellow is expected to achieve proficiency in performing and interpreting clinical neurophysiologic tests and understanding the relevance of tests in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. All rotations will occur at Chandler Hospital. For further information, please visit Epilepsy | UK Healthcare (uky.edu).

Clinical Expectations

The Epilepsy Medicine Fellowship is twelve contiguous months and must be preceded by successful completion of a residency program in neurology or child neurology accredited by the ACGME or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The curriculum will include no less than six months of full-time patient care in inpatient and outpatient epilepsy. The fellow will be clinically trained through direct patient contact in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

The trainee will be expected to obtain a thorough history, perform a comprehensive exam, arrive at a differential and a working diagnosis, and formulate a treatment plan. He/she should possess adequate communication skills and be proficient in English. Fellows will be supervised by the Program Director and Supervising Faculty. The Kentucky Epilepsy Clinic at the Kentucky Neuroscience Institute (KNI) will provide an opportunity to diagnose and treat epilepsy disorders varying in complexity.

Elective time will be made available for trainees to pursue individual interests. Training is separate and distinct from all training required for certification in neurology and child neurology and includes significant didactic and clinical experience in the care of patients with epilepsy.

Scholarship Research

Fellows have the opportunity to participate as co-investigators in ongoing research studies conducted by faculty within the epilepsy section. These studies may be clinical, basic science, or epidemiologic. Current faculty engaged in basic science or clinical research projects will serve as the trainees’ mentor. Fellows will be encouraged to develop an independent research project; however, given the time constraints of a one-year fellowship program this is not required. Fellows are expected to submit at least one abstract or poster for presentation at a local, regional, or national meeting during their fellowship training period. For further information, please visit Office of Research | Functional Imaging for NeuroDiagnostics for Epilepsy and Resective Surgery (FINDERS) | University of Kentucky College of Medicine (uky.edu)