Our Comprehensive Epilepsy Program is Orange County's only academic epilepsy program. This enables us to provide patients with access to the latest treatments in epilepsy, including clinical trials of new medications before they are available elsewhere.
Level 4 epilepsy center
We are a Level 4 epilepsy center, the highest level designation given by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. It means we able to diagnose and treat the most complicated forms of epilepsy with the highest quality care.
This designation also reflects our state-of-the-science neurodiagnostic monitoring technologies and advanced treatment options, including leading-edge medical, surgical and neuro-psychological therapies.
Seizure monitoring unit
We have one of the Southern California region's only specialized brain monitoring units, which allows our epilepsy specialists to track and pinpoint the origins of seizures in the deepest recesses of the brain for as many as six patients at a time.
Research that informs patient care
We also work in collaboration with the scientists at the UCI School of Medicine's Epilepsy Research Center (EpiCenter), one of the world's premiere epilepsy research facilities. At the research center, our physicians work with scientists on a wide range of basic, translational and clinical research that ultimately benefits our patients.
Personalized care
Our board-certified neurologists, who have additional training in epilepsy, provide each patient with a complete diagnostic work-up, after which they outline the best options for care and treatment.
They are especially skilled at caring for women whose epilepsy can be influenced by monthly menstrual cycles, who may become pregnant or may be concerned about the effects of medications on a developing fetus.
Our neurologists develop a personalized plan that draws upon the expertise of a highly trained team of specialists and other healthcare professionals, including:
- Fellowship-trained neurosurgeons
- Nuclear medicine specialists
- Neuroradiologists
- Neuropsychologists
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- Electroencephalography (EEG) technologists
- Nursing specialists
- Nurse practitioners
- Physician's assistants
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We also hold multidisciplinary conferences on a regular basis to ensure that each patient’s case receives comprehensive, expert medical and surgical review.
Epilepsy is a family of disorders that produces spontaneous, unpredictable seizures. More than three million Americans of all ages have epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
One in 10 adults will have a seizure in their lifetime and many will go on to develop epilepsy. Some can control their seizures with anticonvulsant medications, neuropsychological therapies and diet. Others may benefit from surgical intervention.
At UCI Health, we diagnose and treat all types of epilepsy, including idiopathic (genetic), symptomatic (cause known) and cryptogenic (cause unknown). We also have special expertise in helping patients with:
- Medically refractory epilepsy (drug-resistant epilepsy)
- Catamenial epilepsy (women with epilepsy)
- Dietary therapy for patients whose seizures cannot be controlled with medication
The key to improving control of a seizure disorder is an accurate diagnosis. Because each case is unique, our skilled physicians interview and examine each patient and perform diagnostic tests to properly identify the type of seizure, locate its origin and determine the underlying cause.
Learn more about our diagnostic testing, treatments and other services ›
At the heart of our UCI Health Comprehensive Epilepsy Program is a multidisciplinary team of physicians who are dedicated to helping their patients control or eliminate their seizures and, above all, to improve their quality of life.
Our experts include epilepsy specialists, neurosurgeons, neurologists and neuroradiologists:
