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P . David Adelson , M . D ., professor in the West Virginia University ( WVU ) School of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery , vice chair of the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute and executive director of the WVU Medicine Children ’ s Neuroscience Center of Excellence , has established himself in his new home state . You could say he is putting pediatric epilepsy on notice in West Virginia and the region .
While he has performed plenty of surgeries since his arrival last fall , Adelson now feels the WVU Medicine Children ’ s Neuroscience Center of Excellence is on the precipice of taking a giant leap forward in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric epilepsy .
“ Like many children ’ s hospitals around the country , assembling a top epilepsy program and clinical team is a challenge , but I ’ m very excited with the team we are now putting in place ,” says Adelson . “ Our main goal is to achieve 100 % seizure freedom for all our patients .”
One of the most important tenets of Adelson ’ s overarching WVU Medicine Children ’ s Neuroscience Center of Excellence strategy is optimizing care through excellence in clinical management , research and professional and community education .
For children with epilepsy , clinical data shows the success rate significantly drops once a child has failed just one epilepsy medication and continues to plummet as more medications are tried and failed . In the meantime , due to the different medication mixes , these children begin to decline in meeting their developmental milestones and have difficulty assimilating into the normalcy of childhood . Adelson often describes it as experiencing life through the fog
West Virginia Executive | Profiles | 2024
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of five martinis .
“ This is where the education aspect is so important ,” he says . “ Children who have failed multiple epilepsy medications , also known as drug resistant epilepsy , are potentially very good candidates for surgery . Often times , when focal , treating these kids through pioneering , minimally invasive neurosurgery such as laser interstitial thermal therapy ( LITT ) can make a life difference .”
Prior to the development of this groundbreaking technology , epilepsy and tumors , particularly deep in the brain , were traditionally difficult or even impossible to reach via surgery . Open surgery yielded less precision and required long hospital stays for recovery , increasing the risk of complications . LITT , however , allows sub-millimeter accuracy , targeting the epilepsy focus or tumor without injuring the surrounding brain tissue . This results in more favorable outcomes with a hospital stay of only one to two days .
For children with non-focal epilepsy or seizures coming from eloquent parts of the brain , such as speech and motor skills , neuromodulation options such as vagus nerve stimulation or responsive neurostimulation can significantly reduce seizures that damage the brain on a regular basis .
In addition to being a renowned expert in pediatric epilepsy neurosurgery and performing epilepsy surgeries for more than 30 years , Adelson is also an expert in surgically treating traumatic brain injuries , brain tumors , cerebrovascular malformations and brachial plexus / peripheral nerve injuries .
Pediatric neurological care in West Virginia and the surrounding region is in great hands . •
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P . David Adelson , M . D . Company :
WVU Medicine
Title :
Steve A . Antoline Endowed Chair for Children ’ s Neuroscience ; Vice Chair for WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute ; Executive Director for WVU Medicine Children ’ s Neuroscience Center ; Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at WVU School of Medicine
Contact Information :
( 304 ) 598-6127 david . adelson @ hsc . wvu . edu
Accomplishments :
• More than 350 Publications
• Numerous Best Doctors in America Awards
Community Service :
• Scientific Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation of West Virginia
• Board of Directors , Global Neuro Foundation
• Past Chair , Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona
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