Welcome to the 35th Anniversary Celebration for the Epilepsy Program
Epilepsy Program 35th Anniversary
Saturday March 24, 2012
In the early 1970s, Drs. Warren Blume and John Girvin, recognized the need for a specialized epilepsy unit in southwestern Ontario, one of Canada's most heavily populated areas. Dr Girvin carried out the first epilepsy surgery at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) in 1974.
In 1977, the Epilepsy Program was formally established with the generous support of grants from the Academic Development Fund of The University of Western Ontario, the Richard and Jean Ivey Fund, and the London Health Association, owners and operators of London Health Sciences Center. A multidisciplinary team of health care professionals with expertise in epilepsy gradually took shape.
In 1986, a four-bed inpatient epilepsy unit dedicated to the investigation and monitoring of seizures was opened on the 10th floor of the LHSC University Hospital campus. This increased the efficiency of inpatient evaluation, allowing a greater number of patients to undergo surgery and other treatments for epilepsy.
Over the years a growing need for inpatient evaluation necessitating an expansion of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit to 8 beds in 1992. The entire unit was streamlined in conjunction with the adjacent EEG department to provide the most efficient service possible.
More recent innovations include installation in 2002 of 8 fully digital state of the art video-telemetry systems developed in collaboration with XLTEK Corporation of Oakville, Ontario for monitoring of complex epilepsies at University Hospital and the opening of a dedicated pediatric epilepsy monitoring bed using the same equipment at Children's Hospital in 2007.
In addition to patient care, the epilepsy program at UWO supports world-class research and teaching. More than 30 neurologists and neurosurgeons have come from different areas of Canada, as well as numerous countries to learn about the complex epilepsies in our program. While the majority of patients treated in the Epilepsy Unit are from Ontario, patients from other Canadian provinces and as far away as Holland, Mexico, Spain and Australia have come to London Heath Science Centre as a result of its specialized expertise.
We are celebrating 35 years in 2012, and we would like you to be part of our celebrations, thanks!
