Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions. It is more common than stroke, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Unfortunately, there is no cure for epilepsy. With appropriate management, however, many patients are able to enjoy good quality of life.

Mark Yerby, M.D., M.P.H., founded Providence Epilepsy Center in 2002. The center's interdisciplinary team works together to provide medical, nursing, educational, social, psychological and surgical services.

Providence St. Vincent Medical Center features two monitored inpatient beds to diagnose epilepsy with absolute accuracy. Additionally the team at Providence Epilepsy Center has special expertise in managing the unique problems faced by women who have epilepsy.

News and Information

Do you know what to do?
Providence Epilepsy Center has published an easy-to-read information sheet to help people better understand epilepsy and know what to do if they witness someone having a seizure. Download “Don’t Let Seizures ‘Seize’ You”, or for a free printed copy, please call Providence Epilepsy Center, 503-291-5300.

New surgical procedure added to service line
A surgical procedure to reduce seizures is now available to epilepsy patients. Called vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), "it has been clinically proven to decrease, and in some cases, eliminate, seizures by conditioning the brain to better react to the interruptions in brain function common in epilepsy," says Mark Yerby, M.D., M.P.H., neurologist and epilepsy expert.