Senior Training Fellowship 1. Name: Dr. Maya Mary Thomas 2. Department: Department of Neurological Sciences 3. Year of STF: July 5th to September 23rd 2016 4. Objectives stated in the application for STF: i. To enhance skills in interpretation of EEG (electroencephalography) and thereby advance epilepsy care ii. To learn optimal utilization of EEG for selection of difficult patients for epilepsy surgery iii. To further improve the quality of the electrophysiology course run by the Neurosciences department iv. To facilitate development of a “Centre for comprehensive epilepsy care” 5. Center visited for STF & Mentor : The Epilepsy Center, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA Attended the 12 week Clinical Neurophysiology, EEG and Epilepsy Course Mentors Dr. Andreas V Alexopoulos Dr. Naduvil Ahsan Moosa 6. Short description of training: About the program The clinical neurophysiology/epilepsy course is an intensive three-month course designed to introduce core clinical competency in clinical neurophysiology and epilepsy training. The course consists of a nine-week lecture series and three one-week workshops. The course consists of the following: • •
Hands-on learning in the form of case discussion on various topics pertaining to clinical neurophysiology and epilepsy Introduction to clinical and basic science research opportunities, including timeliness of research expectations and requirements The Cleveland Clinic runs this program primarily for the fellows who are joining for their epilepsy fellowship course. As part of their international relations, the Center for international medical education invites observers from all over the world to also attend this course. When I attended the course, there were 12 fellows and 7 of us international observers – from China, Turkey, Brazil, Russia, Colombia and Croatia.
We had some of the world class experts in taking classes, who took us from the very basics of electroencephalogram to management of epilepsy. The program was very structured with ample time for discussion and interaction. We were also allowed to take part in the regular academic activities of epilepsy center which included seminars, guest lectures, journal readings, epilepsy monitoring unit eeg discussions and interpretation. We had to take two exams and were awarded a certificate at the end of the course. It was a great experience to interact with experts in the field of pediatric epilepsy and an extremely comprehensive team involved in the care of people with epilepsy. It was also wonderful to have interactions with people from other countries and learn their approach as well. 7. Plans to implement objectives on return to CMC: 1. Have already had several classes for the post graduates in the department on introduction to EEG and EEG interpretation. 2. Assist in EEG interpretation on a regular basis. Feel better equipped to do this after the course. 3. Have already initiated regular epilepsy surgery meetings – once a week with neurosurgery to discuss and plan patients for epilepsy surgery. 4. Strengthen the B.Sc neuroelectrophysiology course. Yet to help in this regard. 5. Hope to have epilepsy monitoring units with provision for prolonged EEG recordings once new facilities open up in the Kannigapuram campus. Currently we have space constraints for this.
Date: 8/4/2017
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