Abstracts

Rationale: More than 25,000 African Americans are diagnosed with seizures or epilepsy each year. African Americans are more likely to develop epilepsy as they age, due to strokes, head trauma, and other factors. They are also more likely to utilize emergency care to manage their seizures. One contributing factor is the lack of neurologists and epilepsy specialists currently in the U.S. To address these epilepsy disparities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were engaged to increase awareness of epilepsy disparities and neurology as a potential of field of study for pre-medical and health sciences students.

Methods: The Strengthen & Enhance Epilepsy Knowledge (SEEK) Training was created with the goal to build knowledge and capacity of future healthcare workforce. Four pre-recorded trainings included a short didactic presentation and a case study guide to encourage dialogue about cultural humility and family-centered care, seizure action plans, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and transition services from pediatric to adult services. Three HBCUs in Louisiana, Washington DC and Florida were recruited to have their students complete the SEEK Training modules and participate in a discussion with a neurologist and epilepsy health educators.

Results:

The discussions were hybrid with the majority of the speakers participating virtually while some of the students participated online and in-person. Students were incentivized from stipends provided by AAP to complete the SEEK Training and participate in the discussion. Each HBCU implemented their own recruitment methods and evaluations post-discussion.

More than 50 participants were recruited across the three HBCUs and most reported gains in key areas of knowledge and confidence in epilepsy care. Neurologists with experience working with African Americans and college aged patients were intentionally recruited to engage the students in a career preparation discussion.

Conclusions: The virtual training and discussion demonstrated that epilepsy‐specific content can support increases in students’ knowledge and confidence which may lead to better equipped future workforce. Engaging HBCUs is a vital strategy for diversifying specialty care areas, such as neurology.

Funding: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U23MC26252, Awareness and Access to Care for Children and Youth with Epilepsy. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.