Meriem K. Bensalem-Owen, MD, FAAN, FACNS, FANA, FAES

Dr. Meriem Bensalem-Owen is a professor of neurology and director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at UK HealthCare, which holds the highest accreditation (Level 4) from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC). She also holds the Robert and Jeanne Nyere Professorship in Epilepsy Research.

Dr. Bensalem-Owen played a pivotal role in the treatment of the first patients in Kentucky to receive a responsive neurostimulator (RNS) implant and a deep brain stimulator (DBS) device for epilepsy, respectively. She specializes in the care of adults with epilepsy, with a particular focus on drug-resistant epilepsy. Her clinical interests include surgical planning for epilepsy, the use of neurostimulation devices (RNS, DBS and VNS), and the care of women with epilepsy during their reproductive years.

Driven by her passion for education, Dr. Bensalem-Owen founded Kentucky’s first and only accredited epilepsy fellowship training program.

In addition to her clinical work as part of a busy academic health system, she is actively engaged in leadership roles within several professional organizations. She is a past president of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS) and currently chairs the Accreditation Committee of the NAEC. The NAEC includes over 300 member epilepsy centers across the United States.

She is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN); the American Epilepsy Society (AES); ACNS; and the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society. She is a fellow of the ACNS, AES and the American Neurological Association (ANA).

Dr. Bensalem-Owen is deeply committed to raising epilepsy awareness and supporting individuals affected by seizures. She currently serves as president of the board of directors for the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana (EFKY).

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