Expert Epilepsy Service

Comprehensive Epilepsy Treatment and Services

At Massachusetts General Hospital, we provide cutting-edge evaluation and treatment for people living with epilepsy and seizure disorders. Our program focuses on delivering exceptional epilepsy and seizure care while also advancing new discoveries in the field.

We use sophisticated testing to confirm your epilepsy diagnosis, identify the most effective treatment, manage symptoms, and support the social and emotional aspects of living with epilepsy.

Our epilepsy services include:

• Consultations and second opinions for both adult and pediatric patients
• State-of-the-art imaging, EEG monitoring, and neurocognitive testing
• Specialized expertise for women, older adults, children, and people with epilepsy related to cancer and cancer treatment
• Online second opinions, where our experts review your records and provide guidance without the need to travel to Boston

A Level 4 Epilepsy Center

Andrew J. Cole, MD, founded the Mass General Epilepsy Program in 1992, and he assemble a world-class team of specialists dedicated to caring for people with epilepsy. Today, our team includes neurologists, neuroradiologists, and neurosurgeons who specialize in epilepsy surgery. We are known for working closely with neurologists in Greater Boston and around the world to make sure patients get the best possible care.

As a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, certified by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, we provide the highest level of epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. This includes:

• Advanced neurodiagnostics monitoring for even the most complex cases
• Comprehensive medical, neuropsychological, and psychosocial treatment
• Complete evaluation for epilepsy surgery, including intracranial monitoring and complex epilepsy surgeries that many other institutions do not perform
• Neuromodulation therapies, such as responsive neurostimulation (RNS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS), to help control seizures when other treatments are not effective

A National Leader in Epilepsy Surgery

We are a recognized leader in epilepsy surgery. Surgical evaluations are directed by one of our experienced epileptologists, who works closely with neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists, nurse practitioners, and other professionals.

To date, we have performed over 500 epilepsy surgeries and are among the nation’s leaders in using neuromodulation devices for epilepsy, giving us experience that few epilepsy centers can match.

Multidisciplinary Care from Epilepsy Specialists

At Mass General, you benefit from the expertise of a multidisciplinary team that includes:

• Epileptologists (neurologists with advanced training in epilepsy)
• Neurosurgeons
• Neuroradiologists
• Neuropsychologists
• Other specialists

Together, we create a personalized treatment plan for you that uses the latest and most innovative therapies.

Our epilepsy specialists’ first priority is to understand the underlying cause of your seizures, including identifying the type of seizure you are experiencing. Each week, we meet to review active cases, so your treatment plan reflects the expertise of multiple physicians and researchers.

We also use advanced imaging technologies designed specifically for epilepsy. With dedicated scanning protocols, we can identify brain changes that may not be visible with standard imaging. For this reason, many regional and national epilepsy centers refer patients to us for specialized studies or seek our guidance on imaging.

Make an Appointment

Please request a referral from your primary care physician or neurologist, as this helps us understand your medical history and makes your first visit more productive.

A referral to our program may be appropriate if your seizures are not controlled after:

• Three months of care with a primary care provider
• 12 months of care with a general neurologist

Please call 617-726-3311 to make a referral for an adult with epilepsy.

For children and adolescents with epilepsy, please contact our Pediatric Epilepsy Program at 617-726-6540.

Prepare for Your Visit

Your first visit will include:

• A consultation with one of our epilepsy specialists
• A review of your medical history
• A discussion of treatment options

Before your first appointment, please make sure we have:

• Your medical records and test results
• Copies of your past imaging and lab results, including your original electroencephalogram (EEG) tests
• Someone who has witnessed your seizures. If they cannot attend the visit, we can speak with them by phone

Because epilepsy is a chronic condition, our main goal is to carefully evaluate your symptoms and recommend treatment adjustments that can improve seizure control and quality of life. Once we have taken these steps, we often partner with your primary care doctor or neurologist to manage your ongoing care. If you experience setbacks, we work closely with your doctor to adjust your treatment plan as needed.

Get a Second Opinion

We offer second opinions for patients with complex seizure and neurological problems. Our goal is to work closely with you and your physician to confirm your diagnosis and explore the best treatment options.

We can provide second opinions in two ways:

• Record review: Our specialists review your medical records, imaging, and test results
• Consultation: You meet with our team in person or virtually for an examination

Meet Our Multidisciplinary Epilepsy Specialists

Epilepsy Doctors

• Sydney Cash, MD, PhD
• Alice Lam, MD, PhD
• Douglas Maus, MD, PhD
• Dan Hoch, MD
• Andrew J. Cole, MD
• Lara Basovic, MD
• Lidia Maria Moura, MD, MPH, PhD
• Sahar Zafar, MD, MBBS
• Alex Bender, MD, PhD
• Peter Hadar, MD, MS
• Jason You, MD, PhD
• Lily Grossman, MD
• Elizabeth Thiele, MD, PhD
• Ron Thibert, DO, MSPH

Other Epilepsy Team Members

• Natalie Calcagni, NP
• Kaylen Jadul, RN
• Karley Fraser, RN
• Britt Carlson Emerton, PhD - Staff Neuropsychologist
• Steve Stufflebeam, MD - Neuroradiology

Neurosurgeons

• Mark Richardson, MD, PhD
• Pranav Nanda, MD

Epilepsy Research & Clinical Trials

Our epilepsy clinician-scientists study epilepsy from every angle — from patient outcomes, to developing advanced brain imaging tools, to exploring the molecular causes of seizures. When appropriate, we invite patients to take part in research programs and clinical trials.

Explore current studies

Clinical Fellowships in Epilepsy

Mass General offers advanced fellowship programs for physicians seeking specialized training in epilepsy and related fields. Both programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

• Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship: This one-year fellowship provides a strong foundation in clinical epileptology and training in the technical, interpretive, and clinical aspects of electroencephalography (EEG), intraoperative monitoring (IOM), epilepsy care, and electromyography (EMG).
• Epilepsy Fellowship: This fellowship offers advanced training in clinical epileptology.