Cigdem Inan Akman, MD
Overview
Dr. Akman is a Professor of Neurology at CUIMC and chief of the Division of Child Neurology in the Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics of the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University.
Dr. Akman was born and educated in Ankara, Turkey where she graduated with Honors from the School of Medicine, Ankara University. Dr. Akman completed her training in Child Neurology at State University of New York, followed by a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy at Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Subsequently, Dr Akman joined the Division of Child Neurology and the Pediatric Epilepsy Program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where she participated in clinical education and patient care until 2008. Between 2008 and 2010, Dr. Akman worked as the Director of Clinical Epilepsy Research at Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine. Dr Akman returned to Columbia in 2010 and now heads both the Division of Child Neurology and the Pediatric Epilepsy Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Dr. Akman’s research concentrate on epilepsy surgery, outcome of epilepsy surgery, cortical dysplasia and neurostimulation treatment for drug resistant epilepsy. Her clinical practice focuses on epilepsy surgery, Tuberous sclerosis, infantile and childhood onset epilepsy syndromes, and cerebral palsy associated with epilepsy.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Childhood onset epilepsy
- Drug resistant epilepsy
- Epilepsy Surgery
- Epileptic Seizures
- Pediatric Epilepsy
Academic Appointments
- Professor of Neurology at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Chief, Division of Child Neurology
- Director, Pediatric Epilepsy Program
- Director, Tuberous Sclerosis Program at CUIMC
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Languages
- Turkish
Gender
- Female
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
Virtual Visits allow you to connect with your provider from the comfort, convenience, and safety of your own home.
Phone Appointments
Connect Patient Portal
For existing patients, login to make an appointment, view documentation or contact your care provider.
Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Oxford Health Plans
- Freedom
- Liberty
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Ankara University Medical School
- Residency: State University of New York - Downstate Medical Center
- Fellowship: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
- Fellowship: Children's Hospital of Boston
Committees, Societies, Councils
American Epilepsy Society
Child Neurology Society
Board Certifications
- Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology
- Child Neurology
Honors & Awards
- Top Doctors: New York Metro Area (book series): 17th Edition, 18th Edition
- New York Magazine: Top Doctors: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Castle Connolly America's Top Doctors (digital guide): 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Top Doctors New York Metro Area (digital guide): 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Exceptional Women In Medicine: 2019, 2020, 2021
Research
Dr. Akman's clinical research has focused on childhood-onset epilpsy, epilepsy refractory to the medical treatment, epilepsy surgery and cognitive and behavioral problems associated with epilepsy. Dr Akman has published inpeer reviewed journals, in the area of medical treatment and diagnosis of childhood onset epilepsy, clinical neurophysiology to describe the EEG patterns in critically ill children.
Research Interests
- Childhood-onset epilepsy
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov