Originally Released April 15, 2024
This year, both our adult and pediatric Kaleida Health epilepsy centers have achieved accreditation as LEVEL 4 NAEC (National Association of Epilepsy Centers) centers!
We’re thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our journey toward providing exceptional care for patients with epilepsy. This year, both our adult and pediatric Kaleida Health epilepsy centers, including The James H. Cummings Foundation Epilepsy Monitoring Center at Oishei Children’s Hospital, have achieved accreditation as Level 4 NAEC (National Association of Epilepsy Centers) centers!
This prestigious accreditation underscores our commitment to excellence and innovation in the treatment of epilepsy. It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaboration between the departments of neurology and neurosurgery within Kaleida Health, as well as with the UBMD Neurology and Neurosurgery programs.
At the heart of this achievement is the expertise and leadership of Jonathan Riley, MD, who has been the lead surgeon and champion for the epilepsy surgery program, alongside Assaf Berger, MD, and Renee Reynolds, MD. Their dedication to advancing neurosurgical techniques and their invaluable contributions to our epilepsy program have been integral to our success. Additionally, Renee Reynolds, MD, serves as the co-director for pediatric epilepsy, while Ping Li, MD, is the co-director for adult NAEC.
The NAEC IV program director is Arie Weinstock, MD. In addition to our key figures, our epilepsy program is further strengthened by the contributions of crucial faculty members including Robert Glover, MD, Osman Farooq, MD, Sarah Finnegan, MD, Amanda Schwandt, MD, and Alexus Ludwig, MD. Together, their expertise and dedication ensure excellence in epilepsy care and research.
Our state-of-the-art 12-bed Epilepsy Monitoring Center, housed at Oishei Children’s Hospital, is the only center of its kind in Western New York. It offers a broad range of evaluation services and sophisticated therapies for children and adults suffering from seizures. Staffed by board-certified epileptologists from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, our center specializes in the comprehensive diagnosis and management of patients of all ages with refractory epilepsy.
Collaboration with Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute, particularly in the utilization of novel surgical procedures such as stereo electroencephalography (SEEG) performed at the Gates Vascular Institute (GVI), has been crucial to our success.
Our comprehensive epilepsy program encompasses a wide range of diagnostic and treatment programs, including EEG, continuous video EEG monitoring, neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging, genetic evaluation, novel medications and dietary therapies, epilepsy surgery, and neuromodulation.
This achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration, as UBMD Neurology, UBMD Neurosurgery, and Kaleida Health teams work closely together, supported by a dedicated team of technicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners, to deliver the highest standard of care for individuals living with epilepsy in our community.
