CHICAGO — The American Epilepsy Society (AES) is pleased to announce James W. Wheless, MD, FAES, as the recipient of the 2026 J. Kiffin Penry Award for Excellence in Epilepsy Care, recognizing his exceptional contributions to pediatric epilepsy treatment, clinical research, and the advancement of care for children living with epilepsy.
Dr. Wheless is Professor and Chief of Pediatric Neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. He also serves as director of the Neuroscience Institute, Dravet Clinic, and Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Program, and co-director of the Tuberous Sclerosis Center of Excellence at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.
A nationally recognized pediatric epileptologist, Dr. Wheless has dedicated his career to improving treatment options and outcomes for children with epilepsy, particularly those with complex and difficult-to-treat seizure disorders. His research spans pediatric antiseizure medication development, ketogenic dietary therapies, epilepsy surgery, device-based treatments, and noninvasive functional brain mapping. He has served as principal investigator on more than 180 clinical trials, contributing to the evaluation and advancement of therapies for pediatric epilepsy.
Dr. Wheless has also made extensive contributions to the scientific literature, authoring or co-authoring four epilepsy textbooks, 74 book chapters, and 389 publications, including research appearing in leading neurological and medical journals.
Through his combined clinical, research, and academic leadership, Dr. Wheless has helped expand the range of treatment approaches available to children with epilepsy while supporting the advancement of specialized pediatric neurological care.
The 2026 J. Kiffin Penry Award for Excellence in Epilepsy Care recognizes his sustained dedication to improving the lives of children and families affected by epilepsy through clinical excellence, scientific investigation, and innovation in treatment.