Laura Kirkpatrick, MD

  • Assistant Professor
  • Director, Epilepsy Transition Clinic
  • Associate Director, Child Neurology Clinical Research

Laura Kirkpatrick, MD is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics with a secondary appointment in Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh. She is a child neurologist and pediatric epilepsy specialist at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Chicago, followed by medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine. She completed her pediatrics and child neurology training at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and epilepsy fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research focuses on adolescents with epilepsy, including reproductive healthcare and the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare.

Professional and Scientific Society Memberships

  • American Academy of Pediatircs, 2017 - 2022
  • Child Neurology Society, 2017 - Present
  • Pennsylvania Medical Society & Allegheny County Medical Society, 2018 - Present
  • Academic Pediatric Association, 2019 - 2021
  • American Academy of Neurology, 2019 - Present
  • American Epilepsy Society, 2020 - Present
  • Society of Family Planning, 2020 - Present
  • North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 2021 - 2022
  • American Neurological Assocation, 2023 - Present

Education & Training

  • BA, University of Chicago, 2009,
  • MD, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 2017
  • Residency in Pediatrics, Child Neurology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 2017 - 2022
  • Fellowship in Pediatrics, Epilepsy, 2022 - Present
  • MS, University of Pittsburgh, 2023 - Present

Selected Publications

Kirkpatrick L, Kazmerski T, Van Cott A, Bravender T. “Grand Rounds: Contraception for adolescent and young adult women with epilepsy.” (2021). Journal of Pediatrics. 241:229-236. PMID: 34728232.

Kirkpatrick L, Harrison E, Borrero S, Miller E, Sogawa Y, Stransky OM, Talabi MB, Urban A, Kazmerski TM. “Sexual and reproductive health concerns of women with epilepsy beginning in adolescence and young adulthood.” (2021). Epilepsy & Behavior. 125:108439. Doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108439. PMID: 34839241.

Kirkpatrick L, Harrison E, Davis A, Borrero S, Miller E, Sogawa Y, Stransky OM, Talabi MB, Urban A, Van Cott AC, Kazmerski TM. “Preferences and experiences of women with epilepsy regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare counseling.” (2022). Epilepsy & Behavior. 129:108631. Doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108631. PMID: 35247834.

Kirkpatrick L, Bell LA, Tyler C, Harrison E, Russell M, Syed T, Szoko N, Kazmerski TM. “Healthcare and adoption service experiences of people who placed children for adoption during adolescence: a qualitative study.” (2022). Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. S1083-3188(22)00267-4. Doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2022.08.006. PMID: 35988681.  

Kirkpatrick L, Waters J, O’Neal MA. “Preventative approaches in Women’s Neurology: pre-partum, pregnancy, and postpartum.” (2022). Seminars in Neurology. 42:665-678. Doi: 10.1055/a-1958-0633. PMID: 36216357. 

Kirkpatrick L, Sharp E, Abdul Al S, McCormick A, Matheo L, Kazmerski TM. “A survey of pediatric providers’ educational needs and preferences related to healthcare transition.” (2022). Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Doi: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000479. PMID: 36547937. 

Bell LA, Tyler CP, Russell MR, Szoko N, Harrison EI, Kazmerski TM, Syed T, Kirkpatrick L. Preferences and experiences regarding pregnancy options counseling in adolescence and young adulthood: a qualitative study. (2023). Journal of Adolescent Health. S1054-139X(23)00112-X. Doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.02.017. PMID: 37032209.  

Harrison EI, Kirkpatrick L, Hochheiser H, Sogawa Y, Kazmerski TM. A retrospective textual analysis of sexual and reproductive health counseling for adolescent and young adult people with epilepsy of gestational capacity. (2023). Epilepsy & Behavior.145:109321. Doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109321. PMID: 37348408.

Kirkpatrick L, Goldman P, Bell LA, Tyler C, Harrison E, Russell M, Syed T, Szoko N, Kazmerski TM. “Structured engagement of community partners to revise a pregnancy options counseling curriculum for pediatric residents.” (2023). Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development. 10:23821205231190476. Doi: 10.1177/23821205231190476. PMID: 37528948.

Parulekar M, Gordon D, Kazmerski T, Van Cott AC, Waters J, Kirkpatrick L. Co-production of online educational resources for adolescent and young adult females with epilepsy. (2023). Epilepsy & Behavior. 147:109420. Doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109420. PMID: 37716326.

MyNCBI

Academic and Research Interests

  • Epilepsy
  • Adolescent health
  • Reproductive health
  • Transition of care
  • Child neurology
  • Pediatric neurology
  • Women's neurology
  • Neurology

Research Grants

2023-2026, Child Neurologst Career Development Program K12 Award, CNCDP. 

2023-2024, Transition of Care Award, Child Neurology Foundation. 

2023-2025, CHP Scholar Award, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. 

2023-2024, National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).