Is it Epilepsy?

Spectrum Health Medical Group Experts Discuss Latest Developments

Many people experience some form of a seizure in their lifetime. Is that seizure an indicator of epilepsy? And, if it is epilepsy, what does this mean for your life?

The public is invited to ask questions about seizures and epilepsy at this month’s Spectrum Health Medical Group Doctor Dialogue event.

March’s Doctor Dialogue features presentations by West Michigan’s leading epilepsy experts – Brien Smith, MD, Kost Elisevich, MD, PhD, and Daniel Arndt, MD. The event will take place on Tuesday, March 27, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College, 1800 East Beltline Avenue SE, Grand Rapids.

The Spectrum Health Medical Group physicians will discuss the latest developments in epilepsy and will take audience questions throughout the evening.

Brien Smith, MD, will discuss causes of epilepsy in adults and review health risks, the diagnostic process and current treatment options. Dr. Smith is an adult neurologist with fellowship training in epilepsy. He serves as chief of neurology for Spectrum Health Medical Group and also is the current chair of the national Epilepsy Foundation.

Kost Elisevich, MD, PhD, will address surgical methods used in the investigation and treatment of epilepsy with an overview of associated risks and results. He also will provide a perspective on the future of epilepsy surgery. Dr. Elisevich is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with special expertise in epilepsy. He serves as chief of neurosurgery for Spectrum Health Medical Group.

Daniel Arndt, MD, will offer guidelines for those who care for a child with epilepsy, including signs to watch for, proper response and other best care practices. Dr. Arndt is a fellowship trained pediatric epileptologist who practices at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. Register online at shmg.org/doctordialogue or by phone at 616.267.2626 and select option 4.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a state of the art children’s hospital that opened in January 2011, and 190 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 600 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 625,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with more than 18,000 employees. The organization provided $176.5 million in community benefit during its 2011 fiscal year.