Learn more about Recognizing and Treating Epilepsy.
Taylor J. Abel, MD, FAANS is a pediatric neurosurgeon specializing in the care of children and adults with epilepsy and movement disorders. He is board-certified by both the American Board of Neurological Surgery and the American Board of Pediatric Neurosurgery. Dr. Abel’s clinical focus includes both traditional neurosurgical approaches for epilepsy and more recent techniques including stereo-EEG, stereotactic laser ablation, and advanced neuromodulation methods (responsive neurostimulation and subcortical brain stimulation). Dr. Abel also cares for children with brain tumors, Chiari malformation, hydrocephalus, and congenital spinal anomalies.
Dr. Abel received his B.S. and M.D. at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He completed neurosurgery residency and a two-year NIH funded fellowship focusing on epilepsy at the University of Iowa. Dr. Abel then obtained additional subspeciality training in epilepsy surgery (focusing on stereo-EEG) and deep brain stimulation at Centre Hospitalier de Grenoble in Grenoble, France. He then completed an additional year of training in pediatric neurosurgery and pediatric epilepsy surgery at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.
Dr. Abel’s research program focuses on learning the best strategies for epilepsy surgery in children and investigating how the brain perceives voice and speech. He is funded by the National Institutes of Health and industry. He is in leadership roles in both the American Epilepsy Society and the International League Against Epilepsy. He has published over 100 abstracts, publications, and / or book chapters.
Dr. Abel lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, three daughters, and two dogs. 

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