Ruba Al-Ramadhani, MD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Program Director, Child Neurology Residency Program
Associate Director, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Program

Dr. Al-Ramadhani is a board-certified Pediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist, currently serving as the Program Director of the Child Neurology Residency Program and Associate Medical Director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Program at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She also holds a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Child Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

In her role as Program Director, Dr. Al-Ramadhani plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of pediatric neurologists and epileptologists, mentoring residents and fellows with a strong focus on academic excellence and clinical expertise. Her dedication to education is matched by her deep commitment to advancing the field of pediatric epilepsy.

Dr. Al-Ramadhani’s clinical and research interests lie at the intersection of advanced neurodiagnostic techniques and surgical treatment of epilepsy. Her work focuses on stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG), epilepsy surgery, multimodal investigations in epilepsy, intracranial EEG monitoring, brain mapping, seizure semiology, brain connectivity, and functional neuroimaging.

Membership in Professional and Scientific Societies

American Epilepsy Society, 2020 to present
International League Against Epilepsy, 2020 to present
American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, 2020 to present
Child Neurology Society, 2025 to present
American Academy of Neurology, 2025 to present
Association of Academic Leaders of Neurology, 2025 to present

Specialty Certifications

Pediatric Neurology - American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry with special certification in Child neurology, 2019
Clinical Neurophysiology/Epilepsy track- American Board Neurology and Psychiatry in Clinical Neurophysiology, 2021

Honors

A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award, American Academy of Neurology, 2026

Medical or Other Professional Licensure

Mississippi State board of medical licensure, training license , 2016
Georgia Composite Medical Board, full license , 2019
State Board of Medicine Pennsylvania, full license, 2022

Education & Training

MD, College of Medicine University of Baghdad Baghdad, Iraq, 2002-2008
Residency/Fellowship, University of Mississippi, Jackson Mississippi, 2013-2019
Pediatric Epilepsy Fellowship, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 2019-2020
Teaching Fellowship, Woodruff Health Educators Academy, Emory University, Atlanta GA, 2021-2022

Selected Publications

Al-Ramadhani R, Bhalla S, Bearden DJ, Ono K.; Gedela S, ; Chern J. Kheder, A. An unusual case of hypothalamic hamartoma with non-gelastic seizures and posterior cortex connectivity. May 18, 2024. Doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2024.05.009

Al-Ramadhani R, Hect J, Abel T. The changing landscape of palliative epilepsy surgery for Lennox Gastaut Syndrome. Front Neurol. 2024 Mar 7:15: 1380423. doi: 10.3389/fneur. 2024.1380423. PMID: 38515452; PMCID: PMC10954786.

Harford E, Houtrow A, Al-Ramadhani R, Sinha A, Abel T. Functional outcomes of pediatric hemispherotomy: Impairment, activity, and medical service utilization. Epilepsy Behav. 2023 Mar;140:109099. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109099. Epub 2023 Feb 1. PMID: 36736240. Review Article

Samanta D, Haneef Z, Albert GW, Naik S, Reeders PC, Jain P, Abel TJ, Al-Ramadhani R, Ibrahim GM, Warren AEL. Neuromodulation strategies in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. Epilepsy Behav. 2024 Nov;160:110067. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.110067. Epub 2024 Oct 10. PMID: 39393142.

Speakes ME, Reznik-Schaefer K, Al-Ramadhani R, Fernandez LD, Hect JL, Abel TJ, Welch WP. Treatment of pediatric drug-resistant generalized epilepsy with responsive neurostimulation of the centromedian nucleus of the thalamus: A case series of seven patients. Epilepsy Res. 2025 Jan 22;210:107516. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2025.107516. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39864118.

Patel H, Alkalbani L, Harford E, Sutcliffe M, Laughlin S, Vasudevan G, Benjamin N, Speakes M, Schaefer K, Fernandez L, Cobb-Pitstick K, Ortolani E, Abel T, Welch W, Al-Ramadhani R. Seizure Outcomes of sEEG-Guided Surgery for Temporal vs. Extra-temporal Epilepsy in Children. Epilepsy Behav. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.111129

Full publication list at NIH Profile Page

Academic and Research Interests

Pediatric epilepsy; clinical neurophysiology; epilepsy surgery; neuromodulation; electroencephalography; developmental and epileptic encephalopathies; seizure semiology; stereo-electroencephalography; intracranial investigations; and neuroimaging.

Service

Editorial board for Pediatric Neurology Journal : Editorial board - Pediatric Neurology | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
Committee Member, Online Education Committee at the American Epilepsy Society, 2024 to present
Committee Member, Online Education Committee at the American Epilepsy Society 2024 to present
Representative of Child Neurology Society at Organization of Program Directors Association 2024-2025

Media Appearances

UPMC Bridging the Great Health Divide: UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Epilepsy Center on WDTV Channel 5 News affiliate of CBS channel- 2023: https://www.wdtv.com/2023/11/30/upmc-bridging-great-health-divide-upmc-childrens-hospital-pittsburgh-epilepsy-center/

Interviewee, UPMC CHP Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Website- 2024: https://www.chp.edu/our-services/brain/neurosurgery/epilepsy-surgery