The 24th Annual Neurology Residents Scholar Program (NRSP): An Intensive Multi-Day Immersion Program in Epilepsy

The NRSP is an intensive multi-day course designed for second- and third-year neurology residents and child neurology fellows to expand their education and understanding of the complex and evolving diagnostic and therapeutic landscape of epilepsy. Founded by the late Dr. John Gates of the Minnesota Epilepsy Group, PA, the NRSP is in its 24th year of educating residents and fellows about epilepsy to improve patient care. The curriculum is intended to augment general neurology residency and child neurology fellowship programs. Despite substantial advances in epilepsy diagnosis and treatment, important gaps remain in the consistent application of current evidence to seizure classification, treatment selection and sequencing, rescue planning, recognition of drug-resistant epilepsy, and individualized long-term management. With the diagnostic and treatment landscape evolving rapidly, including advances in seizure classification, genetic testing, neuroimaging, antiseizure and rescue therapies, and surgical and neurostimulation approaches, it is critical that training programs supplement standard residency curricula with updated, focused education. Important areas include treatment selection and sequencing after medication failure, management of seizure clusters, timely recognition and referral of drug resistantdrug-resistant epilepsy, and integration of genetic findings into longitudinal care. By equipping residents and fellows with advanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies through interactive expert-led sessions, electroencephalogram (EEG) workshops, and case-based discussions, the NRSP aims to directly influence future epilepsy care delivery by strengthening timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment selection and escalation, and individualized clinical decision-making. Participants who attend the 2026 NRSP will receive a detailed electronic handout and other resources related to the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.