Nancy A McNamara, MD

Dr. McNamara decided to pursue a career in pediatric epilepsy based on living with a younger sibling with epilepsy and watching the ways in which it affected his life and the lives of their family members.  

In her work as a pediatric epileptologist, she focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of childhood epilepsy, in particular children who are candidates for epilepsy surgery. She is working with the rest of the pediatric neurology team to provide the best evidence-based treatment for each child with epilepsy, whether it be medication, dietary options, surgical or neuromodulation. Additionally, she is working on creating an integrative mental health program for children with epilepsy, as living with epilepsy is about so much more than just having seizures. She also focuses on reducing the trauma that epilepsy can sometimes have on patients and their families.

Her other areas of interest are medical education and electrical status epilepticus of sleep, now called spike wave activation in sleep. Dr. McNamara is active with the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, which is such a powerful advocacy group for children with epilepsy, and the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance, who also helps support children and families post epilepsy surgery.