Dr. Ahmed Jouan’s career journey began as a young boy. He had an aunt who lived with a seizure disorder.

“At 10 or 11 years old, it affected me to see her having seizures,” he said. “I wanted to help my aunt.”

While he could not help his aunt, he could help others.

After earning his medical degree, Dr. Jouan specialized in neurology and provided care to a young woman hospitalized for behavior problems. Dr. Jouan ordered an EEG. The test shows changes in brain activity that may be useful in diagnosing brain conditions, especially epilepsy and other seizure disorders. In this patient’s case, the EEG showed that, rather than a behavioral problem, the woman suffered from an autoimmune disease that led to inflammation of her brain and caused seizures.

“With the proper treatment, within two weeks, the woman’s life returned to normal,” Dr. Jouan recalled. “She no longer needed all of the psychotic medication she had been prescribed.”

In addition to his aunt, Dr. Jouan says the example set by his father, a teacher, motivates him.

“He held a master degree in Libya, Africa, in 1966, at time when few other people could claim that accomplishment. He was highly educated,” Dr. Jouan stated. “He was a very wise man and very humble. He helped anyone who needed it.”

And today, his wife, who supported him during the long hours during his five years of physician training - and three children inspire him, “The most important thing in his life is his family.”