The Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at MCG - Augusta University

The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University is home to one of the leading epilepsy centers in the country. Our objective is for our adult and pediatric epilepsy patients to live "seizure free".

Since 1977, MCG's epilepsy program has been a nationally recognized referral center and has performed thousands of epilepsy-related surgeries. The National Association of Epilepsy Centers recognizes the Augusta University Comprehensive Epilepsy Program as a Level IV center, the highest designation given. Patients and their families benefit from the most up-to-date technology available in the area.

Over two million people in the United States are diagnosed with epilepsy, a syndrome marked by recurrent seizures. As a result of new medical and surgical advances, freedom from seizures is now a realistic possibility for most patients with epilepsy.

The Epilepsy Team

Level IV NAEC Certified Comprehensive Epilepsy Center Celebrates Epilepsy Awareness Month

Epilepsy Annual 2023
We are healthcare
Epilepsy dept

 

Health professionals in neurology, neurosurgery, neuropsychology, nursing, and EEG technology provide a full range of diagnostic services, medical treatments, and surgical procedures. 

Meet the Epilepsy Team

Contact Us

Epilepsy

706-721-4626

epilepsy@augusta.edu

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Clinical Epilepsy Program

The Epilepsy Program at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University uses advanced technology to accurately diagnose epilepsy:

  • subtraction ictal  SPECT co-registered to MRI (SISCOM)

  • electroencephalography

  • computerized tomography (CT) 

  • magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

  • positron emission tomography (PET)

  • Our hospital provides in-patient video EEG epilepsy monitoring, including stereoelectroencephalography (stereo EEG) and depth electrodes or subdural electrodes as investigation.

Epilepsy Patient Video

EEG Scavenger Hunt Series

 

EEG Scavenger Hunt Series, Brainy Neurologist. Objective: to start the conversation for new EEG readers. To provide asynchronous content, and an introduction to EEG reading. To spark the learners interest to keep studying EEG content!

 

Department News

In November the Level IV NAEC Certified Epilepsy Department celebrates Epilepsy Awareness Month 2022

epilepsy month team

epilepsy patient

(left to right) Rachel Poston PA, Fernando Vale MD, functional Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Chair, Patient, Debra Moore-Hill MD MPH Epilepsy, Patient’s grandmother.

Video of man getting a haircut prior to surgery goes viral.  Patient pictured with the Level IV NAEC Certified Comprehensive Epilepsy team of physicians at AU.

haircut

 
 

November 2020, Epilepsy Awareness Month, Artwork created by our friends - shown at the Childrens Hospital of Georgia.

Clinical Trials

We are currently enrolling patients in epilepsy research studies, please contact Patty Ray, PhD at 706-721-9680 for information.

  • For 1 month to less than 4 years with any seizure type continuing to have seizures while using 1-4 seizure medications: An open-label study with an extension phase to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of perampanel (E2007) oral suspension when given as an adjunctive therapy in subjects from 1 month to less than 4 years of age with epilepsy.

  • For newborns up to 28 days of age with seizures: A multicenter, open-label, randomized, active comparator study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of lacosamide in neonates with repeated electroencephalographic neonatal seizures.

  • For 2 to 25 years have childhood or juvenile absence seizures not currently treated with other seizure medications: A randomized, dose-finding and confirmatory, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group multicenter study with a 2-stage adaptive design and randomized withdrawal to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of brivaracetam as monotherapy in patients 2 to 25 years of age with childhood absence epilepsy or juvenile absence epilepsy.

Research

Epilepsy Research at MCG - Augusta University

Michelle Y Kibby, Morris J Cohen, Lisa Stanford, Yong D Park. Are frontal and temporal lobe epilepsy dissociable in their memory functioning? Epilepsy & Behavior 2019;99:106487 

Read here

Dileep R Nair, Kenneth D Laxer, Peter B Weber, Anthony M Murro, Yong D Park, Gregory L Barkley, Brien J Smith, Ryder P Gwinn, Michael J Doherty, Katherine H Noe, Richard S Zimmerman, Gregory K Bergey, William S Anderson, Christianne Heck, Charles Y Liu, Ricky W Lee, Toni Sadler, Robert B Duckrow, Lawrence J Hirsch, Robert E Wharen, William Tatum, Shraddha Srinivasan, Guy M McKhann, Mark A Agostini, Andreas V Alexopoulos, Barbara C Jobst, David W Roberts, Vicenta Salanova, Thomas C Witt, Sydney S Cash, Andrew J Cole, Gregory A Worrell, Brian N Lundstrom, Jonathan C Edwards, Jonathan J Halford, David C Spencer, Lia Ernst, Christopher T Skidmore, Michael R Sperling, Ian Miller, Eric B Geller, Michel J Berg, A James Fessler, Paul Rutecki, Alica M Goldman, Eli M Mizrahi, Robert E Gross, Donald C Shields, Theodore H Schwartz, Douglas R Labar, Nathan B Fountain, W Jeff Elias, Piotr W Olejniczak, Nicole R Villemarette-Pittman, Stephan Eisenschenk, Steven N Roper, Jane G Boggs, Tracy A Courtney, Felice T Sun, Cairn G Seale, Kathy L Miller, Tara L Skarpaas, and Martha J Morrell. Nine year prospective efficacy & safety of brain-responsive neurostimulation for focal epilepsy. Neurology 2020 Jul 20;10.1212

Read here

Renad Abu-Sawwa, Brielle Scutt, Yong Park. Emerging Use of Epidiolex® (cannabidiol) in Epilepsy. The Journal of Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2020;25(6):485-499

Read here

Yong D. Park, Daniel F. Linder, Jamie Pope, J. Robert Flamini, Katherine Moretz, Michael P. Diamond, Sarah A. Long. Long-term efficacy and safety of cannabidiol (CBD) in children with treatment-resistant epilepsy: Results from a state-based expanded access program. Epilepsy & Behavior 2020;112: 107474

Read here

 

Epilepsy Treatments

  • Epilepsy surgery including laser ablation

  • Awake brain surgery

  • Ketogenic diet