Current Environment: Production

Medical Services

Specialties

Programs & Services

Languages

  • English

Education

Undergraduate School

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ

Graduate School

MPH

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA

Graduate School

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

London, England

Medical School

Oregon Health & Science University

2009, Portland, OR

Residency

Pediatrics

University of Arizona

2011, Tucson, AZ

Residency

Child Neurology

Boston Children's Hospital

2014, Boston, MA

Fellowship

Pediatric Epilepsy

Boston Children's Hospital

2015, Boston, MA

Certifications

  • American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology
  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Child and Adolescent Neurology)

Professional History

Dr. Patel is a Child Neurologist and Pediatric Epileptologist, with a focus on improving access to care for children with neurological conditions. She is part of the Global Health Faculty and Director of Global Neurology at Boston Children’s Hospital where she leads the BCH Child Neurology Residency Global Health Track. She serves as an Honorary consultant at UTH-Children’s Hospital in Zambia and Adjunct Faculty at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda; she also previously was a Visiting Consultant for Human Resources for Health Rwanda and helped develop the Pediatric Neurology training for the first child neurologists in Zambia. She spends multiple months a year in Africa working directly on clinical, educational and research efforts. Dr. Patel’s research is focused on identifying mechanisms for earlier identification and treatment of pediatric epilepsy in low resource region; additionally, through several international leadership positions and consultancy with the World Health Organization, she works on broader public health initiatives, including advocacy and guideline development to improve access to epilepsy care for children globally.

Publications

  1. Identifying biomarkers for epilepsy after cerebral malaria in Zambian children: rationale and design of a prospective observational study. BMJ Open. 2022 07 18; 12(7):e062948. View Abstract

  2. Nigerian Study Validates Wide Variations in Epilepsy Prevalence and Elucidates Potential Targets for Disease Prevention. Neurology. 2021 08 17; 97(7):305-306. View Abstract

  3. The COVID-19 pandemic and Community Health Workers: An opportunity to maintain delivery of care and education for families of children with epilepsy in Zambia. J Glob Health. 2020 Dec; 10(2):020329. View Abstract

  4. Epilepsy surveillance in normocephalic children with and without prenatal Zika virus exposure. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 11; 14(11):e0008874. View Abstract

  5. Focal epilepsy features in a child with Congenital Zika Syndrome. Epilepsy Behav Rep. 2020; 14:100411. View Abstract

  6. EEG markers predictive of epilepsy risk in pediatric cerebral malaria - A feasibility study. Epilepsy Behav. 2020 12; 113:107536. View Abstract

  7. Development and Evaluation of a Pediatric Epilepsy Training Program for First Level Providers in Zambia. Glob Pediatr Health. 2020; 7:2333794X20968718. View Abstract

  8. Magnetic resonance imaging-guided laser-induced thermal therapy for functional hemispherotomy in a child with refractory epilepsy and multiple medical comorbidities. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2021 01 01; 27(1):30-35. View Abstract

  9. Ketogenic diet in Zambia: Managing drug-resistant epilepsy in a low and middle income country. Epilepsy Behav Rep. 2020; 14:100380. View Abstract

  10. Keeping people with epilepsy safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neurology. 2020 06 09; 94(23):1032-1037. View Abstract

  11. Improving paediatric epilepsy management at the first level of care: a pilot education intervention for clinical officers in Zambia. BMJ Open. 2019 07 24; 9(7):e029322. View Abstract

  12. Bone Health Screening Practices Among Neurologists in Patients on Antiepileptic Drugs: A Quality Improvement Project. Pediatr Neurol. 2020 01; 102:49-55. View Abstract

  13. Bridging the childhood epilepsy treatment gap in northern Nigeria (BRIDGE): Rationale and design of pre-clinical trial studies. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2019 Sep; 15:100362. View Abstract

  14. A retrospective observational study of EEG findings and antiepileptic drug use among children referred for EEG to Zambia's University Teaching Hospital. Epilepsia Open. 2018 Dec; 3(4):503-510. View Abstract

  15. Global Health: Pediatric Neurology. Semin Neurol. 2018 04; 38(2):200-207. View Abstract

  16. Systemic Manifestations in Pyridox(am)ine 5'-Phosphate Oxidase Deficiency. Pediatr Neurol. 2017 Nov; 76:47-53. View Abstract

  17. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Management of a First Unprovoked Seizure in Children and Adolescents With a Focus on the Revised Diagnostic Criteria for Epilepsy. J Child Neurol. 2017 07; 32(8):774-788. View Abstract

  18. Education on the Brain: A Partnership Between a Pediatric Primary Care Center and Neurology Residency. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2018 Jan; 57(1):46-51. View Abstract

  19. Discussion of the updated WHO recommendations for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders. Lancet Psychiatry. 2016 Nov; 3(11):1008-1012. View Abstract

  20. A pediatric epilepsy diagnostic tool for use in resource-limited settings: A pilot study. Epilepsy Behav. 2016 06; 59:57-61. View Abstract

  21. Cataracts. Pediatr Rev. 2011 Feb; 32(2):82-3. View Abstract

I believe in in providing strong clinical care with a family-centered and holistic approach. Access to care and a focus on improving overall quality of life drives both her clinical approach and academic interests.

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