Sandipan Pati MD - Division Director
Dr. Sandipan Pati is an academic, dual board-certified epileptologist, and neurophysiologist at the forefront of innovation in epilepsy care and research. His clinical and scientific work focuses on developing and advancing neuromodulation therapies to treat epilepsy and its comorbidities, including sleep disturbances, SUDEP, and cognitive impairments. With expertise in intracranial electrophysiology (Stereo EEG), precision electrical stimulation, and advanced analytics, Dr. Pati is redefining the
landscape of intractable epilepsy treatment. As Director of the UMN Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, he champions cross-disciplinary collaboration to drive breakthroughs in neuromodulation and circuit therapeutics.
- Fellowship:- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
- Residency:- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ
- Medical School:- JIPMER, Pondicherry, India
- UK Training (MRCP):- Epilepsy Society, Chalfont, UCLHnLondon; John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospital
SPECIAL CLINIC- Epilepsy Brain Stimulation Clinic - Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
- Academic/Administrative : Shannon McCrady, [email protected]
- Email: [email protected]
Sandipan Pati, MD
Aisha Abdul-Razaq, MD
I am a dedicated Neurologist and Epileptologist with a passion for empowering
patients through personalized care. My focus lies in treating patients with
epilepsy, optimizing clinical treatments with the latest medications, and
exploring advanced surgical options, including neuromodulation devices. With
a strong interest in global neurology and epilepsy, I am committed to offering
the best available options while prioritizing each patient's unique treatment
goals. My philosophy is simple: your health, your goals, your care—delivered
with expertise and compassion.
- Fellowship:- Mayo Clinic , Rochester, MN
- Residency:- University of Missouri-Columbia
- Medical School:- University of Lagos College of Medicine
SPECIAL CLINIC- Women’s Health & Epilepsy
Aisha Abdul-Razaq, MD
Thomas Henry, MD
Dr. Thomas Henry is a dedicated neurologist, epileptologist, and clinical
neurophysiologist with a focus on advancing research and treatment for
seizures, epilepsies, and disorders of consciousness. His research emphasizes
pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapy, particularly through ultra high field
brain imaging, clinical electrophysiological techniques, and neural electrical
stimulation.
- Fellowship:- UCLA, Los Angeles
- Residency:- University of Minnesota
- Medical School:- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Thomas Henry, MD
Zhiyi Sha, MD, PhD
Dr. Sha is an Associate Professor of Neurology and the Director of the Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his MD at Shanghai Medical University School of Medicine and his neurology residency at Brookdale University Hospital in New York. Following an Epilepsy Fellowship at UCLA, Dr. Sha has focused his research on
neuroimaging, utilizing advanced MRI techniques to identify brain abnormalities related to epilepsy. He also investigates intracranial EEGs and high-frequency oscillations to improve seizure localization and surgical planning.
- Fellowship:- UCLA, Los Angeles
- Residency:- Brookdale University Hospital, NY
- Medical School:- Shanghai Medical University School of Medicine
SPECIAL CLINIC- First Seizure Clinic for Older Adults
Zhiyi Sha, MD, PhD
Stephen Thompson, MD, FACNS, FRCPC
Dr. Stephen Thompson is a board-certified neurologist and internationally recognized expert in epilepsy surgery and stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG). He currently serves as the epilepsy surgery co-director (medical) with Robert McGovern (surgeon) for University of Minnesota Comprehensive Epilepsy Program . Dr. Thompson completed his medical degree and a graduate degree at the University of British Columbia. He pursued residency training in adult neurology at Memorial University and subsequently completed a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. His clinical and academic focus centers on the surgical management of drug-resistant epilepsy, with particular expertise in SEEG-guided evaluation and treatment. Dr. Thompson has co-authored peer-reviewed publications on SEEG applications in deep brain structures, including the thalamus and basal ganglia . He also contributed a chapter on MRI-negative versus MRI-positive epilepsy in the context of SEEG to the textbook A Practical Approach to Stereo EEG. Dr. Thompson is a Fellow of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (FACNS) and the RoyalCollege of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC). He is actively involved in national and international epilepsy education initiatives and serves as a mentor to trainees in neurology and epilepsy surgery.
- Fellowship:- Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- Residency:- Memorial University, Canada
- Medical School:- University of British Columbia, Canada
Stephen Thompson, MD, FACNS, FRCPC
Ted Walczak, MD
Dr. Thaddeus Walczak is a senior epileptologist and Professor of Neurology at the University of Minnesota, where he has been a leading clinician and educator in the field of epilepsy since 1997. He currently practices at MINCEP Epilepsy Care, one of the nation's first comprehensive epilepsy centers and was the epilepsy division director. Dr. Walczak earned his medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago and completed his residency in neurology at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. He then pursued subspecialty training in clinical neurophysiology, epilepsy, and sleep disorders at Duke University Medical Center.
With a career spanning over three decades, Dr. Walczak has held positions at leading epilepsy centers across New Jersey, North Carolina, and New York City. His work has focused on improving diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in epilepsy, and he has authored numerous publications in both professional journals and patient-facing literature. He is known for his thoughtful, patient-centered approach and for mentoring generations of epilepsy care providers.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Walczak is an avid hiker who has completed the Camino Inglés and the Camino Primitivo to Santiago de Compostela with his family. A proud University of Minnesota parent and supporter, he remains deeply connected to the Gopher community.
- Fellowship:- Duke University Medical Center
- Residency:- Northwestern University (Chicago, IL)
- Medical School:- Northwestern University (Chicago, IL)
Ted Walczak, MD
Minoo Shams-Moorkani, MD
Dr. Minoo Shams-Moorkani is a board-certified neurologist and epileptologist. She provides specialized epilepsy care through M Health Fairview’s Neurology Clinic in Maple Grove and at MINCEP Epilepsy Care, a nationally recognized
comprehensive epilepsy center. Dr. Shams-Moorkani earned her medical degree from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 1998 and completed her neurology residency at West Virginia University in 2010. She went on to complete a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology with a focus on epilepsy at the Mayo Clinic in 2011. Her clinical expertise spans a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to drug-resistant epilepsy, including anterior temporal lobectomy, lesionectomy, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and long-term video EEG monitoring. She is committed to providing individualized, evidence-based care and is actively involved in teaching and mentoring neurology trainees.
- Fellowship:- Mayo Clinic, Rochester
- Residency:- West Virginia University
- Medical School:- Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Minoo Shams-Moorkani, MD
Ilo Leppik MD
Dr. Ilo E. Leppik is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in
epilepsy with over four decades of clinical and research experience. He
serves as Professor of Pharmacy and Neurology at the University of
Minnesota and practices at UMP Epilepsy Care – MINCEP, one of the
country’s most established comprehensive epilepsy centers.
Dr. Leppik has led pioneering research on epilepsy in the elderly, with extensive NIH-funded studies investigating age-related pharmacokinetics of antiepileptic drugs and the management of epilepsy in nursing home
populations. His contributions have significantly shaped the field’s understanding of epilepsy across the lifespan.
A past President of the American Epilepsy Society and former Chair of the Professional Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation of America, Dr. Leppik has been a leader in advancing epilepsy care policy and education. He has delivered hundreds of invited lectures both nationally and internationally and has published over 240 peer-reviewed articles and more than 250 abstracts. He is the author and co-author of several influential books, including Contemporary Diagnosis and Management of the Patient with Epilepsy (over 650,000 copies in print) and Epilepsy: A Guide to Balance Your Life, part of the American Academy of Neurology’s public education series.
- Fellowship:- McGill University Faculty of Medicine
- Residency:- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
- Medical School:- University of Pennsylvania
Awards & Recognition
- William Lennox Award for Lifetime Achievement, American Epilepsy Society 2007
- Named in Epilepsy Section of The Best Doctors in America, 1992 to 2009
- Named in Who's Who in the World, 1997 to present
- International League Against Epilepsy Clinical Pharmacology Award, 1986
- The Penfield Award for Excellence, Montreal Neurological Institute 1975
