Program Mission, Aims and Vision
This fellowship was launched in the academic year 2021 as an ACGME accredited, one-year program. Up to two positions are available for applicants who have successfully completed an adult or pediatric neurology residency in the United States. Applicants should note that our department also offers a separate clinical neurophysiology fellowship of dual training in EEG and EMG. Some applicants may be in interested in a 2-year program that combines a first year of clinical neurophysiology with a second year of epilepsy training.
The epilepsy fellowship will impart proficiency in all aspects of clinical epilepsy in both outpatient and inpatient settings and diagnostic neurophysiologic evaluation, such as routine EEG, ICU-EEG, and the video-EEG of paroxysmal spells and refractory epilepsy. Advanced training includes intracranial EEG (stereo-electroencephalography; SEEG) planning and interpretation, intraoperative electrocorticography and extraoperative stimulation mapping. Fellows gain experience of epilepsy-oriented neuroimaging (3T MRI, fMRI, DWI-tractography, PET, SPECT), the neuropsychology of epilepsy (including Wada testing), and our newly-established transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) service. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is anticipated in the near future. Rotation with our pediatric epilepsy service is an essential part of the fellowship schedule. Fellows also have a weekly longitudinal outpatient clinic where they follow their own patients under faculty supervision.
The epilepsy program at the University of Florida is a level IV NAEC Epilepsy Center that serves over 5000 patients each year. More than 3000 inpatient and outpatient EEGs are performed each year, including an ICU EEG program that supports a 30-bed neuro-ICU in addition to medical and surgical ICUs. The state-of-the-art adult EMU is equipped with 8 hard wired beds that evaluates >200 patients a year; a separate pediatric EMU has 4 hard wired beds. We have a high volume of complex refractory epilepsy with a busy SEEG service for pre-surgical patients who later undergo traditional cranial resective epilepsy surgery procedures, laser interstitial thermocoagulation therapy (LITT) or responsive (RNS) or open-loop neurostimulation (DBS). We also serve a large population of patients implanted with vagus nerve stimulators (VNS). Didactic opportunities include a weekly multidisciplinary Epilepsy Management Conference, weekly SEEG conference, daily neurology resident noon conference, weekly departmental grand rounds, and wide choice of other academic meetings on campus. Research opportunities abound in all fields relevant to clinical epilepsy – e.g. pharmacology, electrophysiology, imaging, health outcome, epidemiology and descriptive case series. Division faculty currently have active research collaborations with scientists in bioengineering, electrical engineering, neurogenetics and dietetics.
Fellows are offered the annual American Clinical Neurophysiology Society In-Service Exam. In addition, attendance and presentations at the national American Epilepsy Society and American Clinical Neurophysiology Society are encouraged.
Inquiries are welcome to Dr. Wang or Dr. Kalamangalam:
Yue Wang. MD
Assistant Professor
Director, Epilepsy Fellowship
Department of Neurology
University of Florida
Giridhar Kalamangalam, MD
Division Chief
Co-director, Epilepsy Fellowship
Department of Neurology
University of Florida
Application materials may be obtained from the fellowship administrator, April King at the email below:
Interview invites will be sent out following review of application materials to selected candidates.