Christopher B. Traner, MD

Christopher Traner, MD, MHS, is a neurologist who specializes in treating patients of all ages for seizures and epileptic disorders. That includes patients who develop seizures that are secondary to other neurologic problems such as stroke, tumors, and dementia syndromes. While medications are the first line of therapy for epilepsy, Dr. Traner also cares for patients who undergo surgery when their epilepsy or seizures do not respond to standard medical therapy.

“We treat the whole patient,” Dr. Traner says, explaining that epilepsy is a disease that involves more than just seizures—there are also various comorbidities related to the condition. These can include depression and other mood disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and a higher prevalence of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, among other issues. He works with a dedicated team that includes nurses and nurse practitioners, a dietician, and a social worker to provide patients with support long term.

Dr. Traner says he was inspired to become a doctor by a primary care physician he had when he was in high school. “Later, in medical school, I found myself attracted to neurology because of the ‘puzzle’ of using the patient’s story and the neurologic examination to pinpoint where in the nervous system the patient had a disease,” he says.

“Epilepsy is a long-term condition, so I get to know my patients and their families and grow with them as I continue to treat them,” Dr. Traner says. He tells them that there are enough effective treatments for epilepsy that they should not allow it to limit their goals in life. “I always treat patients with this attitude, and I am always listening for ways that I can make living with this chronic condition easier for them,” he says.

An assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Traner has research interests in determining the best combinations of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) so that he can continue to improve treatments for patients. “I also am looking for new research projects revolving around what we can learn from our experience with our epilepsy patients that can be translated beyond Yale to better the lives of all those living with this condition,” he says.