New Topics for Fall 2025 Include:
- Febrile Seizures
- First Seizure/Epilepsy Presentation
- Nocturnal Seizures vs. Parasomnias
- Common Pediatric Epilepsy Syndromes
- Anti-Seizure Medication Overview
Epilepsy in Children and Youth: Foundational Program *Updated Curriculum
This series aims to enhance core competencies for the management of epilepsy.
SEPT. 8 - NOV. 17, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM (EST)
*This fall, ECHO Epilepsy Ontario introduces an enhanced curriculum designed to reflect the evolving needs of primary care. With five new sessions, the series now includes practical, real-world topics like febrile seizures, first seizure management, and nocturnal events—conditions often encountered in family practice. Join us to build confidence in recognizing and managing epilepsy in children and youth.
This curriculum covers a spectrum of skills and knowledge that relate to diagnosis, seizure semiology, ASMs, common epilepsy syndromes, and more. The program is designed for primary care providers and/or healthcare practitioners who are seeking fundamental knowledge in epileptology.
Patient Case Support
Healthcare providers can present your de-identified case for advice, support and written recommendations.
This learning series is facilitated by experts from the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Epilepsy Toronto and Epilepsy Ottawa.
Syllabus
This Group Learning program meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by Continuing Professional Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto for up for up to 1.0 Mainpro+ credits.
This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, approved by Continuing Professional Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. You may claim a maximum of 1.0 hours.
- Review current definitions of seizures and epilepsy
- Describe the basic mechanisms of seizures
- Review the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification of seizures and epilepsies
- Differentiate between focal and generalized seizures
- Distinguish between absence seizures and focal impaired awareness seizures
- Identify key clinical features that help to differentiate seizure types that manifest with non-motor semiology
- Define status epilepticus
- Describe the management of prolonged seizures and review guidelines for status epilepticus
- Review seizure safety precautions
- Recognize common seizure mimics by history and semiology
- Describe characteristics of non-epileptic events
- Identify seizure mimics that deserve proper diagnostic and medical intervention
- Identify general presentations, work-up, prognosis, and management of common pediatric epilepsy syndromes (childhood absence epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy/juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, self-limited epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (SeLECTs)
- Define epileptic spasms (review clinical presentation, EEG, investigations)
- Differentiate infantile spasms and seizure mimics
- Highlight common causes and general work-up for infantile spasms
- Review management pathway for infantile spasms
- Classify the appropriate tests and procedures for a child presenting with a seizure and/or epilepsy.
- Recognize the difference between work up for acute symptomatic seizure vs. that for suspected epilepsy.
- Identify the clinical use and limitations of EEG in the diagnosis and management of epilepsy.
- Counselling for safety following first-presentation seizure (including water safety, driving, etc)
- Work-up in community or rural/remote settings where EEG/MRI are not readily available
- Distinguishing simple vs. complex febrile seizures
- Highlight the recommended work-up for febrile seizures
- Discuss the general outcomes for febrile seizures
- Discuss when to refer to a neurologist
- Discuss general approach to types of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) and indications (e.g., for generalized or focal seizures)
- Review the main side effects of ASMs to monitor for
- Describe when to consider stopping ASMs
- Identify evidence for CBD in epilepsy – discuss indications, drug-drug interactions + side effects. Discuss medical grade CBD and process of prescribing in Canada
- Differentiating nocturnal seizures from sleep parasomnias and other normal sleep movements
- Describe seizures which tend to be nocturnal
- Describe features of sleep parasomnias
Didactics & Recordings
Clinical Leads
Dr. Lauren Sham
Paediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist (Medical Lead)
Dr. Elizabeth Donner
Paediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist
Dr. Elizabeth Kerr
Neuropsychologist
Heather Oliveri
Social Worker
Laura Wang
Clinical Pharmacist
David Carlone
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Karen Owusu
Epilepsy Nurse Practitioner
Katie Armstrong
Director of Children & Youth Services (Epilepsy Toronto)
Sandi Reggler
Family and School Liaison (Epilepsy Ottawa)
Register
NOTE: Zoom Registration is working, you will receive a Zoom email confirming registration after you complete the form. However you may also receive this onscreen message “echo.zoom.us refused to connect” after registering. Do not be concerned, we are looking into this issue. But please email us at epilepsy@echoontario.ca if you do not receive the Zoom Registration Confirmation Email within 5 minutes of registering.