Dr. Susanta Bandyopadhyay discovered a love for clinical neurology, particularly the epilepsy field, while pursuing a PhD. He enjoys the challenging but exciting process of diagnosing and treating this complex disease. In his free time, you’ll find him exploring nearby parks with his family or trying new international cuisine at some of Nashville’s lesser-known restaurants.
Tell us about your background and how your path led to Vanderbilt.
I originally come from India. I attended medical school in the Eastern part of India in a city called Kolkata (previously called Calcutta). I came to the U.S. initially for a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. That’s where I grew interested in epilepsy. My research work was on the basic mechanisms underlying epilepsy.
Toward the end of my PhD work, after seeing both the clinical and research side, I thought I was more inclined for the clinical world. So I decided to complete a residency in neurology at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. I was already interested in epilepsy and knew that was what I was going to pursue. Following residency, I chose to come to Vanderbilt for a fellowship in epilepsy. I spent two years at Vanderbilt, then I took my first job as an academic clinician at the University of Missouri in Columbia. I spent eight years working at the epilepsy center there. Last year I returned here to Vanderbilt where I trained. That’s my journey!
What attracted you to pursue a specialization in epilepsy?
It’s a disease that can involve many different areas of the brain and can manifest with a wide variety of symptoms. Even though people generally think of epilepsy as convulsions, in fact it can involve any network of nerves in the brain and produce symptoms based on the part of the brain involved. Diagnosis of epilepsy can be challenging because sometimes the manifestations are subtle and the presentation is so variable. Though we have medications, about one-third of the patients don’t respond well to them and need surgical intervention, which involves a more extensive work-up to determine the location in the brain that is affected. That involves a deep-dive into where in the brain the symptoms are coming from in order to figure out the way to treat the disease, which is both challenging and exciting.
Who have been some key mentors for you along the way?
My PhD mentor was a great influence, and working in his lab helped further my interest in neuroscience as a whole and, more specifically, epilepsy.
When I came to Vanderbilt for fellowship, I had great teachers and colleagues who taught me a lot, and I became a full-fledged epilepsy doctor with their influence, teaching, and encouragement.
What provoked your decision to return to Vanderbilt?
I liked the work environment I saw during fellowship, both in the division and in the department as a whole. It is a collegial environment, and the way the whole department works–the interaction at an academic and personal level–made it fun and a joy to work here.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I live with my 12-year-old daughter and wife, and I like to spend time with my family. Nashville has so many parks we like to visit. For example, Radnor Lake State Park, or Percy Warner Park are very nice areas where we like to take a walk and be in nature. There are also several state parks around, and the Smokies are not too far. We also like to spend time as a family playing board games and watching movies together. I like to travel, but since the pandemic we haven’t had much of a chance. We recently went to India, where we make sure to go every few years.
What are you currently watching or listening to?
I like to watch documentaries on nature, wildlife and diverse landscapes and cultures; David Attenborough’s documentaries are among my favorites. I also love to watch travel vlogs on YouTube. I listen to all different types of music, especially world music. I like to explore YouTube for music from different parts of the world and discover how they’re different from each other or how they sound the same.
Do you have any favorite restaurants in Nashville?
I enjoy exploring different types of foods. I don’t have particular favorites, but I like to try different cuisines. Nashville has a wide variety of international cuisine. For example, Nolensville Pike has a wide variety of restaurants that are lesser known, but represent so many different types of food. I like the saying from Andrew Zimmern [Travel Channel personality]: If it looks good, eat it!
