About the Division

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center offers innovative, leading-edge care for the medical and surgical evaluation of adults with epilepsy. The division is a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, designed to provide extensive medical and neuropsychological treatment as well as intensive neurodiagnostic monitoring. The division works in a collaborative environment with neurosurgery, psychology, pharmacy, nutrition and neuroradiology. We feature a state-of-the-art, eight-bed Epilepsy Monitoring Unit that allows physicians, residents and researchers to closely observe and evaluate patients during diagnostically challenging seizures.

For patients who have medically refractory epilepsy, we offer several different surgical options including minimally invasive surgical techniques, standard surgical treatments and neuromodulation. Additionally, we’ve developed several outpatient specialty clinics that focus on unique populations of epilepsy including patients who are pregnant, patients who are transitioning from pediatric to adult care, and patients diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic events.

Our research efforts and clinical trials often lead to advancements in epilepsy treatment. Our team includes physicians board-certified in epilepsy and/or clinical neurophysiology, and two dedicated epilepsy nurse practitioners.

Welcome from Division Director,
Danielle Becker, MD

The Division of Epilepsy combines cutting-edge research with the highest level of patient care. Because we are a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, we see a variety of serious epilepsy cases from around the state. Our interdisciplinary, collaborative approach allows physicians and researchers to gain valuable insight into epilepsy with the use of promising and pioneering testing, therapeutics and treatments. We have several multidisciplinary, specialty clinics to enhance patient care and provide customized therapy to specific individuals. From advanced diagnostics to complex surgical interventions unavailable elsewhere, the depth and breadth of academic experience and research options offered at Ohio State are unsurpassed.

Goals and highlights

The immediate goal of the Division is to provide the most comprehensive options available for the treatment of epilepsy to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Our ultimate goal is that research will lead to an eventual cure.

• We evaluate approximately 400 patients annually in our Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.
• For intractable epilepsy, we provide standard surgical treatments such as lobectomy and lesionectomy, minimally invasive surgical techniques such as MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy, and neuromodulation therapies such as DBS, RNS, and VNS.
• The Division partners with OSU’s Maternal Fetal Medicine experts to help manage epilepsy patients who become pregnant.
• The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital have partnered together to develop an Epilepsy Transition Clinic for patients that are transitioning from pediatric to adult care.
• Together with Neuropsychology, a Psychogenic Nonepileptic Events Clinic has been established to provide care and support to those with this underlying diagnosis.
• Our physicians and APPs are on national committees such as the American Epilepsy Society, American Academy of Neurology, and My Epilepsy Story.

Centers and clinics

We work closely with the following centers and departments:

• Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
• Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
• Specialty clinics under Epilepsy
• Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Epilepsy Clinic – Coming soon!
• Epilepsy Pregnancy Clinic
• Epilepsy Transition Clinic
• Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Event (PNEE) Clinic

Programs and services

• Dedicated epilepsy pharmacist who provides pre-treatment screening and long-term monitoring for side effects.
• Dedicated epilepsy neurosurgeon that specializes in epilepsy surgery including phase 2 monitoring, standard surgical treatments such as lobectomy and lesionectomy, minimally invasive surgical techniques such as laser interstitial thermal therapy, and neuromodulation therapies such DBS, RNS, and VNS.