Epilepsy Surgery Program
Epilepsy Surgery Program
Overview
Rhode Island Hospital is a Level 4 (highest level) epilepsy center, offering deep expertise and the full array of the most advanced surgical options for people with epilepsy.
Those with epilepsy not completely controlled by medication may be candidates for surgical treatment. In many cases, surgery can offer the possibility of eliminating seizures where medicines have failed. Individual cases are evaluated by a team of doctors and other clinicians, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, radiologists and others, to design patient-specific treatment plans that maximize the possibility of seizure control while minimizing risk. Patient’s individual concerns and preferences play a large role in designing the optimal treatment plan.
We combine this patient-centered approach with the most advanced technology to deliver the highest-quality, world-class care. These technologies include MRI-guided laser ablation, high resolution pre- and intra-operative neuro-imaging, 3D-printed patient-customized brain targeting systems, high-precision intra-cranial neurophysiology, and responsive (“closed-loop”) neurostimulation systems. These technologies allow us to more accurately identify seizure networks in the brain, and then to deliver optimal treatment.
Brown University Health
Laser surgery helps epilepsy patient take control of his life
As members of the Brown University faculty, our clinicians not only apply the latest technologies to improve our patients’ lives, but we also conduct research to better understand epilepsy and related problems with cognition and memory, as well as to develop and test new therapies. Ongoing studies focus on the neurophysiology of memory and attention, memory neuromodulation, machine-learning decoding of neural activity, nonhuman models of cognitive processes, and patient-based clinical trials, among many others.
Our talented, highly-experienced team and extraordinary technological resources enable the Brown University / Rhode Island Hospital Comprehensive Epilepsy Program to deliver exceptional medical and surgical care to individuals with epilepsy seeking improved quality of life.
Our Team
Neurosurgery
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Wael F. Assad, MD, PhD
Sidney A. Fox and Dorothea Doctors Fox Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Professor of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience, Vice-Chair, Research, Director, Functional and Epilepsy Neurosurgery Program, Director, Laboratory for Neurophysiology and Neuromodulation, Assistant Director, Neurosurgery Residency Training Program, Director, Fellowship in Functional & Epilepsy Neurosurgery -
Konstantina A. Svokos, DO, MS
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, Director of Fetal Neurosurgery, Co-Director, Neuroplastics, Co-Director, Center for Surgical Treatment of the Developing Brain and Spine, Pediatric Neurosurgeon -
Athar Malik, MD, PhD
Samuel I. Kennison, M.D. and Bertha S. Kennison Assistant Professor of Clinical Neuroscience, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Director, Brain Injury & Restorative Neurosurgery, Director, Restorative Neuroscience Laboratory -
Albert E. Telfeian, MD, PhD
Professor of Neurosurgery, Vice-Chair, Quality Improvement, Director, Center for Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Spinal Surgery, Vice President, Neurosurgery & Neurosurgical Innovation
Neurology
Andrew Blum, MD, PhD, Director of Adult Epilepsy Neurology
Luca Bartolini, MD, Director of Pediatric Epilepsy Neurology
Julie Roth, MD, Epileptologist
Neishay Ayub, MD, Epileptologist
Monica Dhakar, MD, MS, Epileptologist
Jason Richards, MD, Epileptologist
Duyu Nie, MD, PhD, Pediatric Epileptologist
Neuropsychology
Geoffrey Tremont, PhD
Seth Margolis, PhD
Radiologists
Jerrold Boxerman, MD, Neuroradiologist
Glenn Tung, MD, Neuroradiologist
Conditions We Treat
- Intractable Epilepsy
Technology
- Neurosurgical Robot
- Neuromodulation for Epilepsy
- MRI Guided Laser Ablation
- Focused Ultrasound
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- Custom 3D-Printed Targeting Platforms
- BrainLab AIRO Mobile CT Scanner with Navigation System