From Despair to Hope: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Care Through Global Collaboration

For families facing pediatric epilepsy, the diagnosis often brings fear and uncertainty. While some forms resolve over time or respond to medication, drug-resistant epilepsy presents one of the most complex challenges in neurological care. When medications fail, surgery may be the only option, yet for many families, access to this specialized treatment feels out of reach.

Beyond clinical hurdles, the stigma of epilepsy remains a powerful barrier. Misconceptions can lead families to hide a child’s diagnosis or delay care. But the truth is clear: with the right treatment, children with epilepsy can live full, meaningful lives.

Thanks to a global collaboration, hope is growing. In 2023, Valley Children’s formalized a strategic partnership with Wigmore Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Yerevan, Armenia. The goal: strengthen local capacity through shared expertise. This partnership includes medical staff exchanges, mentorship, nursing education and quality improvement initiatives — all designed to advance specialized pediatric care.

One of the early successes has been in drug-resistant epilepsy surgery, a field previously underserved in Armenia. Estimates suggest about 4,000 Armenian children have epilepsy, though the real number may be higher. In April 2025, Wigmore neurosurgeons performed three successful surgeries on children as young as 18 months, a milestone made possible through months of remote case reviews, infrastructure planning and guidance from Valley Children’s specialists.

“This is a very important development, not only for Wigmore, but for the advancement of Armenia’s overall healthcare system,” said Tatevik Koloyan, Chief Development Officer at Wigmore. “Often, skilled specialists visit Armenia to provide consultations, perform surgeries and then they leave. While this is undoubtedly valuable, for us the priority is to invest in such cooperation by educating and building a team of skilled specialists within the country.”

Hands-on mentorship proved critical. “When performing complex neurosurgery in children, early intervention is often critical to preserve cognitive development,” said Dr. Cesar Santos, Valley Children’s Medical Director of Neurosciences. “Having experienced mentors on site lets teams act with confidence while building long-term surgical capacities.”

The collaboration has not only advanced surgical care but also strengthened the entire continuum of care for complex cases. Valley Children’s Clinical Nurse Specialist Heather Tripp provided targeted training in Wigmore’s pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), enhancing nurses’ skills in monitoring and supporting children before and after neurosurgery.

“Now there is a foundation for continuing this work and expanding it,” said Tripp.

As part of the partnership, Armenia saw its first neuropsychological assessment kit in Armenian, developed and implemented by Dr. Paul Lebby, Valley Children’s Medical Director, Neuropsychology, and Director, Neurodevelopment, and Senior Neuropsychologist. This kit is used pre- and post-operatively in pediatric epilepsy surgeries to track cognitive and developmental outcomes. To ensure ongoing care, Dr. Lebby also trained Wigmore’s developmental pediatrician and psychologist to conduct timely post-assessments, ensuring long-term follow-up.

This partnership offers a blueprint for global health equity: pairing surgical missions with lasting knowledge transfer, ensuring more children receive life-changing care close to home.