AE

Zurich, in person and online

Dr. Adham Elshahabi

Neurologist with a specialisation in epilepsy

Based in Zurich, Switzerland, I work across clinical neurology and epileptology, with research centred on electrophysiology, especially EEG and MEG, alongside additional work in brain imaging with fMRI and PET. This page presents a concise overview of my training, licensure, clinical experience, and selected academic contributions.

Request an appointment
01

Epileptology

Clinical work centered on epilepsy diagnostics, seizure evaluation, and treatment planning.

02

General neurology

Training and practice across stroke care, emergency neurology, inpatient wards, neuro-oncology, neuroimmunology, and neuromuscular services.

03

Electrophysiology

Primary research focus in electrophysiology, especially EEG and MEG, complemented by additional brain imaging work with fMRI and PET in the study of epilepsy and functional brain networks.

Profile

Neurologist and epileptology-focused physician with training across inpatient neurology, emergency care, stroke pathways, subspecialty services, and research in electrophysiology and brain imaging in epilepsy.

Clinical focus

Patient-facing clinical profile

Focused on epilepsy diagnostics, seizure evaluation, treatment planning, and broader neurology training in Zurich, supported by Swiss and German medical licensure.

Research background

Clinical work grounded in research

Research centred on electrophysiology, especially EEG and MEG, with additional work in fMRI and PET, supports a translational view of epilepsy while keeping the primary emphasis on clinical work and training.

Experience
Jan 2026 - present

Internal medicine resident

Spital Lachen, Lachen, Switzerland

Current internal medicine residency role at Spital Lachen.

Apr 2024 - Dec 2025

Epileptology resident

Swiss Epilepsy Center, Klinik Lengg, Zurich, Switzerland

Focused on epilepsy diagnostics and treatment within a specialized clinical setting.

Jul 2020 - Dec 2023

Neurology resident

Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Worked across stroke units, emergency neurology, inpatient wards, neuro-oncology, neuroimmunology, and neuromuscular services.

Oct 2018 - Apr 2020

Locum neurology resident

Multiple neurological clinics, Germany

Worked on a locum basis across neurorehabilitation, early rehabilitation, stroke units, neurological intensive care, night duties, and on-call neurology services in several German hospitals.

  • 24 Feb - 30 Apr 2020 路 Neurorehabilitation phases C and D 路 Asklepios Weserbergland-Klinik, H枚xter, Germany
  • 1 Oct - 30 Nov 2019 路 Early rehabilitation phase B 路 Kliniken Schmieder, Allensbach, Germany
  • 5 Aug - 22 Sep 2019 路 Stroke unit / neurological intensive care 路 Helios Klinikum, Uelzen, Germany
  • 11 Feb - 30 Jun 2019 路 Stroke unit / neurological intensive care 路 Rhein-Mosel-Fachklinik, Andernach, Germany
  • 1 Feb - 10 Feb 2019 路 Night duties on stroke unit / neurological intensive care 路 Helios Hanseklinikum, Stralsund, Germany
  • 17 Jan 2019 and 9 May 2019 路 On-call neurology service 路 Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus, Herdecke, Germany
Apr 2018 - Sep 2018

Neurology resident in acute neurology

Kliniken Schmieder Allensbach, Germany

Ward physician on the neurological ward and on the neurological intensive care unit.

Clinical internships

Earlier clinical exposure

  • Clinical internship in neurology, Zurich, Switzerland, Jan 2018.
  • One year of clinical internships in internal medicine, paediatrics, general surgery, gynaecology, anaesthesia and intensive medicine, neurosurgery, and neurology in T眉bingen, Germany, 2016/2017.
  • Clinical internship in family medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, Apr 2009.
  • Clinical internships in ophthalmology at Semmelweis University, Budapest, Aug 2007, and Gdansk University, Aug 2006.
Licensure
MEBEKO recognition since 13 Dec 2023

Recognition to practise medicine in Switzerland

Registered in MedReg since 2018 (GLN 7601007817450).

Approbation since Dec 2017

License to practise medicine in Germany

Full medical licence (Approbation) to practise medicine in Germany.

Education
Oct 2012 - May 2024

PhD in neuroscience

University of T眉bingen, Germany

Thesis: Functional Connectivity Networks in Epilepsy. Work included MEG resting-state networks in generalized epilepsy and simultaneous PET/fMRI/high-density EEG in epilepsy.

2010 - 2012

MSc in Neuroscience

University of Trento, Italy

Master's degree in Cognitive Neuroscience, graduated summa cum laude. Thesis on tactile perceptual decision making of coherent motion direction.

2003 - 2010

MBBCh, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

Primary medical degree, graduated with a Very Good final grade.

Projects
Screenshot of EEG Viewer with an example EEG loaded in the browser
Digital project

eeg-viewer.com

A web-based EEG viewer built for reviewing electrophysiology recordings directly in the browser.

Screenshot of Semiology Atlas showing the interactive brain interface
Digital project

semiologyatlas.com

A structured reference project focused on seizure semiology and clinical pattern recognition.

Publications

Selected publications I contributed to in epilepsy, neuroimaging, and related clinical work are listed here.

  1. Aiello G, Elshahabi A, Stieglitz L, Belvedere A, Dubcek T, Polania R, Imbach L.

    Intracranial biomarkers for anterior thalamic deep brain stimulation in epilepsy: a long-term observational study

    new

    Brain 路 Published online 03 Apr 2026 路 doi: 10.1093/brain/awag120

  2. Steinegger L, Kana V, Nierobisch N, Elshahabi A, Weller M, Herwerth M, Roth P.

    Distinct clinical, imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid profiles in people with late-onset multiple sclerosis

    Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders 路 97:106399 路 doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2025.106399

  3. Sinka L, Abraira L, Imbach LL, Elshahabi A, et al.

    Association of Mortality and Risk of Epilepsy With Type of Acute Symptomatic Seizure After Ischemic Stroke and an Updated Prognostic Model

    JAMA Neurology 路 80(6):605-613 路 doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.0611

  4. Stier C, Loose M, Kotikalapudi R, Elshahabi A, Li Hegner Y, Marquetand J, Braun C, Lerche H, Focke NK.

    Combined electrophysiological and morphological phenotypes in patients with genetic generalized epilepsy and their healthy siblings

    Epilepsia 路 63(7):1643-1657 路 doi: 10.1111/epi.17258

  5. Stier C, Elshahabi A, Li Hegner Y, Kotikalapudi R, Marquetand J, Braun C, Lerche H, Focke NK.

    Heritability of Magnetoencephalography Phenotypes Among Patients With Genetic Generalized Epilepsy and Their Siblings

    Neurology 路 97(2):e166-e177 路 doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012144

  6. Kajal DS, Fioravanti C, Elshahabi A, Ruiz S, Sitaram R, Braun C.

    Involvement of top-down networks in the perception of facial emotions: A magnetoencephalographic investigation

    NeuroImage 路 222:117075 路 doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117075

  7. Klamer S, Ethofer T, Torner F, Sahib AK, Elshahabi A, Marquetand J, Martin P, Lerche H, Erb M, Focke NK.

    Unravelling the brain networks driving spike-wave discharges in genetic generalized epilepsy-common patterns and individual differences

    Epilepsia Open 路 3(4):485-494 路 doi: 10.1002/epi4.12252

  8. Sahib AK, Erb M, Marquetand J, Martin P, Elshahabi A, Klamer S, Vulliemoz S, Scheffler K, Ethofer T, Focke NK.

    Evaluating the impact of fast-fMRI on dynamic functional connectivity in an event-based paradigm

    PLoS One 路 13(1):e0190480 路 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190480

  9. Li Hegner Y, Marquetand J, Elshahabi A, Klamer S, Lerche H, Braun C, Focke NK.

    Increased functional MEG connectivity as a hallmark of MRI-negative focal and generalized epilepsy

    Brain Topography 路 31(5):863-874 路 doi: 10.1007/s10548-018-0649-4

  10. Sahib AK, Mathiak K, Erb M, Elshahabi A, Klamer S, Scheffler K, Focke NK, Ethofer T.

    Effect of temporal resolution and serial autocorrelations in event-related functional MRI

    Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 路 76(6):1805-1813 路 doi: 10.1002/mrm.26073

  11. Elshahabi A, Klamer S, Sahib AK, Lerche H, Braun C, Focke NK.

    Magnetoencephalography Reveals a Widespread Increase in Network Connectivity in Idiopathic/Genetic Generalized Epilepsy

    PLoS One 路 10(9):e0138119 路 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138119

  12. Klamer S, Rona S, Elshahabi A, Lerche H, Braun C, Honegger J, Erb M, Focke NK.

    Multimodal effective connectivity analysis reveals seizure focus and propagation in musicogenic epilepsy

    NeuroImage 路 113:70-77 路 doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.03.027

  13. Klamer S, Elshahabi A, Lerche H, Braun C, Erb M, Scheffler K, Focke NK.

    Differences between MEG and high-density EEG source localizations using a distributed source model in comparison to fMRI

    Brain Topography 路 28(1):87-94 路 doi: 10.1007/s10548-014-0405-3

Appointment

Request an appointment

Use this form if you would like to request a non-urgent appointment, a second opinion, or a review of your case. Share a short summary, your availability, and any reports you would like me to review in advance.

Appointments can be arranged in English, German, Italian, and Arabic.

Sending this form does not by itself create a doctor-patient relationship. If you have urgent symptoms or an emergency, please contact your local emergency services.