Emergency icon Important Updates
Department Epilepsy Center
Primary Location Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Type of Doctor Both Adults and Children & Adolescents
Languages English
Surgeon No
Locations
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Primary Location

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Appointment:
216.636.5860
Desk:
216.636.5860
Fax:
216.445.6813
Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Clinical Trials
  • Cortical Brain Mapping
  • Epilepsy Pharmacotherapy with Call Office
  • Epilepsy Surgery
  • Epilepsy Surgery and Video EEG Evaluation
  • Epilepsy Surgery Evaluation
  • Epilepsy Surgery in Children
  • First Seizure Assessment
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Specialized EEG with Subdural Grids
  • Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG)
  • Subdural Recording Signal Analysis
  • Surgery in Brain Malformations
  • Vagal Nerve Stimulation
  • Video EEG Monitoring
View all 16 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Autoimmune Epilepsy
  • Benign Focal Epilepsies and Variants
  • Brain Tumor-Related Epilepsy
  • Complex Partial Seizures
  • Developmental Disorders of the Brain
  • Doose Syndrome
  • Dravet Syndrome
  • Epilepsy
  • Epileptic Encephalopathies
  • Focal Cortical Dysplasia
  • Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
  • Hemispheric Epilepsy
  • Infantile Spasm
  • Intractable (Drug Resistant) Epilepsy
  • Ketogenic Diet
  • Landau-Kleffner Syndrome (LKS)
  • Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
  • Lissencephaly
  • Malformations of Cortical Development
  • Medically Refractory Status Epilepticus
  • Mitochondrial Causes of Epilepsy
  • Myoclonic Epilepsy
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Non-Epileptic Seizure
  • Pediatric Epilepsy
  • Post-Traumatic Epilepsy
  • Rasmussen Encephalitis
  • Refractory Epilepsy
  • Seizures
  • Seizures - Febrile
  • Sleep and Epilepsy Issues
  • Status Epilepticus (Continuous Seizures)
  • Stroke Causing Seizures
  • Sturge-Weber Syndrome
  • Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE)
  • Traumatic Brain Injury Causing Seizures
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
  • West Syndrome
View all 39 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

Is Cleveland Clinic Part of Your Insurance?

Review a list of accepted insurance plans for our Northeast Ohio locations or learn more about purchasing a contracted managed care plan.

View All Plans
Biography

About Elaine Wyllie, MD

Dr. Elaine Wyllie is Professor of Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and a world-renowned epilepsy specialist at Cleveland Clinic who provides treatment for children from around the world.   Her honors include the highly competitive Epilepsy Research Award from the American Epilepsy Society, the Jasper Award from the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, the Cleveland Clinic Award for Master Clinician, and the J. Kiffin Penry Award for Excellence in Epilepsy Care from the American Epilepsy Society.  She is editor of “Wyllie’s Treatment of Epilepsy”, the standard in the field through seven editions, and author of “The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Epilepsy”, an authoritative book for the lay public.

Dr. Wyllie has published over 250 reports on her scientific research.  Throughout her career she has championed offering early surgery to infants and children with uncontrolled seizures, to improve quality of life and maximize developmental potential. Her current research, expanding and redefining key aspects of the selection criteria for epilepsy surgery candidates, is influencing clinical practice at epilepsy centers throughout the world. She lectures extensively and has presented her research at over 500 scientific meetings and visiting professorships worldwide.  You may view the experience of two of her patients in the CNN-produced video Cleveland Clinic: A Culture of Breakthroughs.

Dr. Wyllie has mentored hundreds of epilepsy fellows, many of whom are now leaders of their own programs.  She is also committed to conversation with patients and families, and authors a regular blog on epilepsy for US News & World Report.  She enjoys a balanced life with her husband, Dr. Robert Wyllie, and now that their two sons are grown, their passionate hobby is ballroom dancing.  If you are interested to see another side of her life, you may view some of Dr. Wyllie’s dance videos at TangoWyllieOnVimeo.com, and if you would like to hear an interview with Dr. Wyllie about her life in medicine and how dancing has influenced her work, visit Cleveland Clinic: Insights and Inspiration.

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
1985

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - Cleveland Clinic
Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology
Cleveland, OH USA
1985

Residency - Cleveland Clinic
Pediatric Neurology
Cleveland, OH USA
1982

Residency - Case Western Reserve University - University Hospitals of Cleveland
Neurology
Cleveland, OH USA
1981

Residency - Indiana University Medical Center
Pediatrics
Indianapolis, IN USA
1980

Medical Education - Indiana University School of Medicine
MD
Indianapolis, IN USA
1978

Professional Highlights

  • Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine with Case Western University.
  • Certified by the American Boards of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Neurology, with Special Competencies in Pediatric Neurology and Epilepsy
  • Editor of the leading medical textbook in the field, Wyllie’s Treatment of Epilepsy, now in its sixth edition.
  • Author of The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Epilepsy, an authoritative book for the lay public.
  • A world renowned thought leader in epilepsy medicine who lectures widely and has published over 250 reports on her research in epilepsy in scientific journals.
  • Recipient of many honors and awards, including the prestigious Career Award for Outstanding Work in Epilepsy Research from the American Epilepsy Society.
  • An active clinician who cares for children with all forms of epilepsy and attracts personal referrals from physicians worldwide for consultation on the most challenging cases.
  • A champion for recognizing opportunities for offering early epilepsy surgery to infants and children with uncontrolled seizures, to reduce suffering and maximize developmental potential.

Certifications

  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry and Neurology - Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology
  • Psychiatry and Neurology - Epilepsy
  • Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology
  • - Pediatrics - General Cert
  • - Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology - G

Specialty Interests

Children with complex epilepsies, children with epilepsy and Sturge Weber Syndrome, children with first seizure, clinical drug trials, clinical neurophysiology, diagnostic video EEG for pediatric seizure disorders, EEG, Epilepsy, epilepsy and epilepsy surgery in children and adolescents, Epilepsy surgery and medical treatment of epilepsy in children, invasive EEG monitoring for pre-surgical evaluations, Pediatric Epilepsy, pediatric epilepsy and epilepsy surgery, Rasmussen's encephalitis and medically refractory status epilepticus., Seizure disorder treatment and surgery in brain malformations, seizure manifestations, Sturge Weber syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, vagus nerve stimulation, Video EEG, brain malformations causing epilepsy

Awards & Honors

  • Epilepsy Association Legacy Award, 2015
  • Cambridge Who's Who Executive and Professional Registry, since 2006
  • Honorary Membership, Canadian Association for Child Neurology, 1999
  • Marquis Who's Who in Science and Engineering, since 1998
  • America’s Top Doctors, Castle Connolly Medical Ltd, since 1998
  • Marquis Who's Who in America, since 1995
  • Marquis Who's Who in the World, since 1995
  • Best Doctors in America, since 1994
  • US News and World Report, Best Doctors in America, since 1994
  • US News and World Report, Best Doctors in Ohio, since 1994
  • Milken Family Foundation / American Epilepsy Society Award for Outstanding Work in Epilepsy Research, 1994

Innovations & Patents

  • Expansion of the pool of pediatric candidates for epilepsy surgery to include carefully selected children and adolescents who have focal lesion seen on MRI, but lack well-localized abnormalities on EEG

Memberships

  • American Academy of Neurology
  • American Epilepsy Society
  • International League Against Epilepsy   
  • Child Neurology Society
Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for Elaine Wyllie, MD.

(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.

To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.

As of 10/3/2023, Dr. Wyllie has reported no financial relationship with industry that is applicable to this listing. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.

Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.

* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

63 Patient Satisfaction Reviews

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cleveland Clinic.

Overall Star Ratings
4.8 out of 5
Explains 4.8
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.8
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.8

20 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Nov 8, 2023

We have been with Dr Wiley for 16 years, she is the best Dr we have ever had. We are sad to hear about her retirement but happy for her.

Reviewed on Sep 27, 2023

She is brilliant and did answer our questions, but We were disappointed with bedside manner. She was typing during most of the visit. When I asked a question, I was told "let me finish this note" before addressing it and then I had to bring it back up again later to have it addressed.

Reviewed on Aug 30, 2023

I would only trust this type of care to doctors at the Cleveland Clinic. They are the best of the best for a reason

Reviewed on Aug 14, 2023

Dr Wyllie, was perfect.

Reviewed on Jul 17, 2023

She seemed very rushed and disconnected from my medical history. I had to refresh her memory on many things. I'm not confident she was using the right data to make decisions about my medical situation and didn't take time to explain.

Reviewed on Jul 14, 2023

Dr. Wyllie is a wonderful woman and provider. She treats me with the utmost respect and I admire her greatly for how she includes me in the treatment decisions for my daughter. She is very knowledgeable and wants nothing but the best for her patients.

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2023

Dr. Wyllie is brilliant, compassionate, and a strong partner who created solutions to stabilize my daughter from the relentless seizures and to bring her to good health.

Reviewed on Jun 21, 2023

We LOVE Dr. Wyllie

Reviewed on Jun 14, 2023

No bad experience so far. I love doctor Wyllie so much

Reviewed on Jun 14, 2023

She's de best

Reviewed on Jun 14, 2023

Overall the experience was excellent aside from the call centers inability to work with me to switch listed insurance provider

Reviewed on Jun 12, 2023

We appreciate the partnership with have with Dr. Wyllie and her respect for our observations on side effects and other concerns.

Reviewed on May 30, 2023

Dr. Wyllie has been nothing short of amazing with us since we started seeing her January of 2017. We love her honesty and the compassion she shows towards our family. We are very blessed to have her.

Reviewed on Apr 24, 2023

Dr Wyllie was amazing. She was ontime for the meeting, extremely thorough about our child's history with seizures and next steps towards finding a solution to her health issues.

Reviewed on Feb 24, 2023

Dr. Wyllie is everything we expected and more when we reached out for an appointment. She is professional, kind, pragmatic, positive, and made us as parents feel a sense of security and care.

Reviewed on Feb 9, 2023

Dr. Wyllie is compassionate and competent- I fully trust her professional experience. I'm so grateful for her care.

Reviewed on Feb 9, 2023

Oliver met with Dr Wyllie and has had brain surgery and seizure freedom.all of which occurred in a short time frame. I recommend CC to all friends and family who experience complex medical issues. We've received superb care.

Reviewed on Jan 23, 2023

The doctor was phenomenal. Really addressed every minute concern or thought that I had concerning my daughter or her condition. Overall an amazing experience

Reviewed on Jan 23, 2023

Doctor and her staff are phenomenally dedicated to their kids and their health

Reviewed on Dec 6, 2022

I had a very good experience with Dr.Elaine Wyllie like I always do! I can tell she really cares about me and wants me to succeed.

Back to Top