The Epilepsy Podcast Epilepsy Institute of NJ

Dr. Alexander Whiting is a neurosurgeon and director of epilepsy surgery for Allegheny Health Network’s Neuroscience Institute. He specializes in state-of-the-art epilepsy treatments, including stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG), seizure focus resections, laser ablations, vagal nerve stimulation, and responsive neurostimulation. Additionally, he has clinical interests in complex spine and brain disorders, and offers a range of surgical options and interventions for these conditions.  

Dr. Whiting completed his residency at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. He completed his fellowship in epilepsy surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, and was awarded the American Epilepsy Society’s prestigious Young Investigator Award.  

Today we speak to Dr. Whiting about SEEG.

Dr. Joseph Neimat is the chairman of the department of neurological surgery at University of Louisville. Dr. Neimat came to the University of Louisville from Vanderbilt University where he held a variety of positions: Associate Professor and the Director of Human Neurophysiological Research, Neurotrauma, Epilepsy Surgery, and the Functional Neurosurgery fellowship.  

Dr. Neimat's current research interests include investigation of the affective and cognitive properties of the basal ganglia. His research also examines the clinical application of neural stimulation in the treatment of disease that is resistant to current therapies. He is the lead or co-author of approximately 90 peer-reviewed articles, published abstracts, and textbook chapters.  

Today he joins us to talk about the decision making behind epilepsy surgery.

Dr. Dario Englot is an Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, Neurology, Radiology & Radiological Sciences and the Surgical Director of Epilepsy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Englot’s clinical interests include epilepsy, neuromodulation, movement disorders, pain disorders, and general neurosurgery. He also leads an active research laboratory studying brain networks in neurological disorders using neuroimaging and electrophysiology, with a particular focus in epilepsy. Dr. Englot completed his residency at University of California and his fellowship in functional neurosurgery and epilepsy at Vanderbilt.  

Today we are going to be speaking with Dr. Englot about using the human brain connectome to guide epilepsy treatment.

Dr. Robert Goodman is a neurosurgeon at Hackensack University Medical Center and has been an innovator in the treatment of epilepsy for more than 30 years. He established one of the first multidisciplinary epilepsy centers in New York City. He is a scholar and has over 100 peer-reviewed publications to his name.  After completing his medical education at Johns Hopkins University, he went on to complete his neurosurgery residency at New York Presbyterian - Columbia University Medical Center. He later completed his fellowship training in epilepsy surgery at the Montreal Neurological Institute.  

Today he is back on the show to talk about temporal lobe epilepsy.

Dr. Robert Goodman is a neurosurgeon at Hackensack University Medical Center and has been an innovator in the treatment of epilepsy for more than 30 years. He established one of the first multidisciplinary epilepsy centers in New York City. He is a scholar and has over 100 peer-reviewed publications to his name.  After completing his medical education at Johns Hopkins University, he went on to complete his neurosurgery residency at New York Presbyterian - Columbia University Medical Center. He later completed his fellowship training in epilepsy surgery at the Montreal Neurological Institute.  

Today we are going to be speaking with Dr. Goodman about responsive neurostimulation (RNS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Shabbar Danish, MD, FAANS is a board-certified neurosurgeon and Chair of Neurosurgery at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. In this role Dr. Danish works to enhance and expand services for adults needing neurosurgical care, especially for patients with brain and spine tumors, Parkinson’s and other movement disorders, epilepsy, and facial pain.   

Dr. Danish has more than 13 years of experience providing care for patients, specializing in craniotomy, MRI guided laser therapy, deep brain stimulation, resection for epilepsy, neuromodulation for epilepsy, microvascular decompression, and laminectomy for resection of spinal tumors. Dr. Danish has pioneered techniques for deep brain stimulation and MRI guided laser therapy for inoperable brain tumors, making him an internationally renowned expert.

He joins us today to speak about how laser interstitial thermal therapy is a potent tool for epilepsy treatment.