The Epilepsy Institute of New Jersey

02/10/2026

Meet Yulia 👋 The friendly voice, the calm presence and the person making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes at the Epilepsy Institute. From your first call to your visit with our team - you’ll feel cared for and supported every step of the way.

02/04/2026

Just pulled out of the hospital — two epilepsy surgeries down, including one that reflects an important shift in how we think about tumor-related seizures.

Sometimes, a brain tumor isn’t just “an incidental finding” — it can be the driver of the epilepsy. And when imaging and mapping show it’s safe to remove, surgery can be the most direct way to treat the root cause.

What’s changing in the literature is the question: why wait until someone becomes “drug-resistant” if the seizure focus is a removable lesion and the risk profile is favorable? Earlier surgery may mean better seizure control and, especially for kids, potentially less cumulative exposure to medication trials that can carry cognitive or behavioral side effects for some patients.

Shout-out to my friend and colleague Dr. Andrew Hale for co-authoring a thoughtful paper on this exact frontier:
Hale AT et al., Brain (2022) — “Expedited epilepsy surgery prior to drug resistance.”

If you or a loved one has seizures and an identified brain lesion on MRI, it’s worth asking about an early epilepsy surgery evaluation — even if medications haven’t “failed enough” yet.

Article link (open access):
https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/145/11/3740/6670917





02/04/2026

Just pulled out of the hospital — two epilepsy surgeries down, including one that reflects an important shift in how we think about tumor-related seizures.

Sometimes, a brain tumor isn’t just “an incidental finding” — it can be the driver of the epilepsy. And when imaging and mapping show it’s safe to remove, surgery can be the most direct way to treat the root cause.

What’s changing in the literature is the question: why wait until someone becomes “drug-resistant” if the seizure focus is a removable lesion and the risk profile is favorable? Earlier surgery may mean better seizure control and, especially for kids, potentially less cumulative exposure to medication trials that can carry cognitive or behavioral side effects for some patients.

Shout-out to my friend and colleague Dr. Andrew Hale for co-authoring a thoughtful paper on this exact frontier:
Hale AT et al., Brain (2022) — “Expedited epilepsy surgery prior to drug resistance.”

If you or a loved one has seizures and an identified brain lesion on MRI, it’s worth asking about an early epilepsy surgery evaluation — even if medications haven’t “failed enough” yet.

Article link (open access):
https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/145/11/3740/6670917




Every photo on our wall tells a story.A journey. A family. A question asked at the right moment. A brave step forward.Ou...
02/02/2026

Every photo on our wall tells a story.
A journey. A family. A question asked at the right moment. A brave step forward.

Our patients are not just cases or scans. They are teachers. Each person who walks through our doors brings a unique story that helps us learn, connect, and care better for the next child or family who needs answers.

These faces remind us why we do this work — and how sharing one story can help another family feel less alone. It also matters because epilepsy surgery remains one of the most underutilized treatment options, even for patients whose seizures have not responded to multiple medications.

Many of the patients we meet have never been told they have drug-resistant epilepsy, despite having tried numerous seizure medications without success. Families are often searching for answers without knowing that surgical and advanced neuromodulation options even exist.

By sharing their journey, one patient’s story can help another family learn about these options sooner, ask the right questions, and potentially change the course of a life.

If you’re a patient or family who feels comfortable sharing your journey, we’d be honored to include you on our wall. If you would like to share a photo or a short testimonial as part of our Hope and Awareness series, please message us anytime.

#епілепсія
напади
epilepsysurgery cirugíadeepilepsia хірургіяепілепсії
pediatricepilepsy epilepsiainfantil дитячаепілепсія
neurosurgery neurocirugía нейрохірургія
pediatricneurosurgery нейрохірургіядлядітей
drugresistantepilepsy epilepsiarefractaria фармакорезистентнаепілепсія
sEEG SEEG
RNS responsiveNeurostimulation
DBS deepBrainStimulation
vagusNerveStimulation VNS
hemispherotomy lobectomy temporalLobectomy

01/30/2026

We’re proud to share this moment from Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, where Dr. Tomycz also serves as Director of Pediatric Surgical Epilepsy.

Working closely alongside Eric Segal, MD, Director of Pediatric Epilepsy, this multidisciplinary team provides leading-edge care for children with complex and drug-resistant epilepsy across New Jersey and beyond.

At the Epilepsy Institute of New Jersey, we believe the best outcomes come from collaboration — combining academic leadership, surgical expertise, and individualized care for every child and family we serve.

Grateful for our colleagues and partners at Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health and for the shared mission of advancing pediatric epilepsy care.

01/29/2026

Flashback from Facebook to a combined Rutgers–RWJ Barnabas skull base microsurgical anatomy course.

Two intensive days of cadaver dissection and focused teaching on complex skull base approaches — from the cavernous sinus and orbit to retrosigmoid and far lateral corridors.

A core part of resident education and one of the highlights of the year, dedicated to surgical simulation, refining technique, and preserving the craft.

📸 Courtesy of the original post by Dr. James K. Liu.

01/29/2026

Epilepsy care has changed a lot in the last decade. Today, “surgery” doesn’t always mean a large operation — it often means options. From minimally invasive techniques like laser therapy and stereo-EEG (sEEG) to neuromodulation devices (RNS, DBS, VNS) that help calm seizure networks, we now have more ways than ever to tailor treatment to each patient’s brain and life.

A surgical consultation isn’t a commitment — it’s a conversation. You can expect a careful review of seizure history, imaging, EEG data, and prior treatments, followed by an honest discussion of all available options: surgery, devices, medication adjustments, or sometimes reassurance that surgery isn’t needed at all. Families have time to ask questions, understand risks and benefits, and hear what outcomes realistically look like.

Our goal is clarity, not pressure — helping patients and families understand what’s possible today, and what the next best step might be toward fewer seizures and a better quality of life.

In the operating room in Kyiv, performing sEEG with a Leksell frame — precision, collaboration, and shared purpose acros...
01/16/2026

In the operating room in Kyiv, performing sEEG with a Leksell frame — precision, collaboration, and shared purpose across borders.

Working alongside Dr. Carrie Muh from Westchester (right) and Dr. Kostia Kostiuk at the Romadanov Neurosurgical Institute. Moments like this remind us how much progress is possible when expertise, trust, and commitment to patients come together — no matter the geography.

Proud to collaborate in Kyiv, advancing care for children with drug-resistant epilepsy.



#епілепсія #дитячанейрохірургія #нейрохірургія #медицина #співпраця #здоровʼя #Україна

01/15/2026

She’s 6 years old.
She had drug-resistant epilepsy.
She went home two days after brain surgery — and she is now seizure-free.

Before surgery, she underwent SEEG monitoring, a specialized form of brain mapping that helps us understand exactly where seizures are coming from. That information allowed us to plan surgery with precision and confidence.

Epilepsy surgery isn’t a last resort.
For the right child, at the right time, it can change the entire course of a life.

Every patient is different. Every decision is individualized.
But stories like this are why we do this work.

If you’re a parent wondering whether surgery could be an option for your child, it starts with asking the question.

💜

❤️🙏
11/27/2025

❤️🙏

Before moving forward with epilepsy surgery, these are the most important questions to ask your doctor.Bring this list t...
11/27/2025

Before moving forward with epilepsy surgery, these are the most important questions to ask your doctor.
Bring this list to your surgical evaluation so you feel informed, confident, and empowered every step of the way.
✔️ Print it.
✔️ Highlight your concerns.
✔️ Ask openly — you deserve clear answers.



🧠 Questions to Ask Before Epilepsy Surgery

◻️ When is epilepsy surgery considered an option?
◻️ What makes someone a candidate for epilepsy surgery?
◻️ What tests do I need before surgery?
◻️ What types of epilepsy surgery are there?
◻️ Which surgery is right for me or my child?
◻️ What are the chances of becoming seizure-free?
◻️ What are the risks or complications of epilepsy surgery?
◻️ Will surgery affect my memory, speech, or personality?
◻️ How long will I be in the hospital?
◻️ What is recovery like after epilepsy surgery?
◻️ How soon can I go back to work, school, or normal activities?
◻️ Will I need to keep taking seizure medications after surgery?
◻️ How long does it take to know if the surgery worked?
◻️ What is the long-term success rate?
◻️ What is the difference between resective surgery, laser ablation, RNS, VNS, DBS, and SEEG?
◻️ How do I choose the right surgeon or epilepsy center?
◻️ How many epilepsy surgeries has this surgeon performed?
◻️ Will surgery improve my quality of life?
◻️ Will surgery help me drive again or be more independent?
◻️ What are the emotional or psychological effects after surgery?
◻️ Do I need rehabilitation or therapy afterward?
◻️ What are the risks if I don’t have surgery?
◻️ What happens if surgery doesn’t work?
◻️ What alternative treatments exist if I’m not a surgical candidate?
◻️ How much does epilepsy surgery cost?
◻️ Will insurance cover my evaluation and surgery?
◻️ What should I expect during the pre-surgical hospital stay?
◻️ Who will be on my care team?
◻️ What support is available for families and caregivers?

Operating in Ukraine on a young lady with mesial temporal lesion and drug resistant epilepsy.   Great to be with our sur...
11/26/2025

Operating in Ukraine on a young lady with mesial temporal lesion and drug resistant epilepsy.   Great to be with our surgical colleagues in Lviv! 💜

Address

150 Bay Street, Suit 317
Jersey City, NJ
07302

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12013615445

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