Epilepsy Fellowship

The goal of the program is to prepare the fellow for independent practice as an academic epileptologist. Formal teaching is integrated with the daily informal teaching on all rotations. Didactics focus on EEG and medication and surgical management of epilepsy. Over the course of the fellowship, fellows have graduated responsibility in overseeing the epilepsy monitoring unit, monitoring continuous EEG (both scalp and invasive), developing surgical implantation schemes, and proposing surgical plans. Direct supervision of rotating residents occurs both in the epilepsy monitoring unit as well as during EEG rotations.

In addition, the fellow has a continuity clinic supervised by an epilepsy attending. The outpatient clinic offers leading-edge medical and surgical treatment options, as well as access to specialized research and clinical trials.

Adult fellows rotate at the affiliated Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for 1-2 months to increase pediatric exposure, while pediatric epilepsy fellows rotate at Northwestern Memorial Hospital to increase exposure to adult epilepsy.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is the highest ranked hospital in the Chicago metropolitan area. The Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery are ranked fifth in the nation.

The fellowship offers ample opportunity in clinical research in several areas of epilepsy with mentors who are world-renowned experts in their field. Project ideas are discussed at a research meeting in the beginning of the year and a timeline is devised to ensure successful completion of the project by the end of the year. A full-time clinical research associate is available to support the regulatory process, data collection, analysis and the publication process.

Fellows are expected to complete at least one research project during their training. They are also expected to present their data at a national meeting and autor either and original manuscript, review article, or book chapter during their fellowship.

The ACGME-accredited training in Epilepsy must be preceded by the completion of a residency program in neurology or child neurology accredited in the United States or Canada.

Residents are selected for Epilepsy fellowship from eligible applicants based upon their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills and personal qualities. No discrimination is made based upon sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability or veteran status. Approximately half of the eligible applicants are invited for personal interviews.

The Epilepsy Fellowship program participates in the AAMC’s Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match. The program will begin accepting applications for the 2025-2026 academic year in December 2023. Interviews will take place between January and April. For information on submitting an application, visit the ERAS for Applicants website.

Required documents include:

• CV
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• A copy of current temporary medical license
• Copies of USMLE scores

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine seeks to attract inquisitive, motivated fellows and is committed to providing them with every opportunity for success. We encourage a diverse and inclusive work environment that allows each trainee to achieve their personal goals.

For more information on Northwestern’s commitment to diversity, please see the Northwestern McGaw Underrepresented Residents & Fellows Forum and Feinberg School of Medicine Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

The Neurosciences Health, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (HEDI) Committee was developed to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion in the Neurosciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Learn more about our work.