Kristy Fox, an alumna from the Neurodiagnostic and Sleep Science program (NDSS), was recently awarded the Maureen Berkeley Award by the American Society of Electroencephalographic Technicians (ASET) for her capstone project entitled F.I.R.E.S. that was published in the Neurodiagnostic Journal.
Fox’s interest in the topic of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) began with her summer practicum at UNC Health Care after gaining hands-on working experience with a child that received a diagnosis for FIRES. Fox recognized the information gap on the pathogenesis and treatment of the relatively unknown disease: “FIRES had so little information published about it, and no one in the EMU or EEG lab had heard of it.” She decided to complete her capstone project—a literature review and case study—on the topic: “I really wanted to get more information out about FIRES, and to do something for my capstone project that had a personal meaning.”
Fox said receiving the award an incredible honor. She credits the Mary Ellen Wells, PhD, director and associate professor of the NDSS program, with encouraging her to publish her capstone project. “She was extremely supportive,” Fox said. “If it had not been for all of her help and encouragement, I would have never published.”
Fox works as the director of Catawba Valley Community College’s (CVCC) electroneurodiagnostic program (END). While the transition from a clinical setting to a teaching role has been challenging, she said it has also been incredibly rewarding. Fox said her experiences in the hands-on portion of the NDSS program allowed her to succeed with her capstone project.
Fox said she plans on continuing her education in the fall, working towards a master’s degree in instructional technology. She said she is interested in working to improve technologist education so they are prepared for the workforce. The NDSS program is a joint initiative between the UNC School of Medicine Department of Allied Health Sciences and UNC-Charlotte.