Dr. Charlotte Dravet (July 14, 1936 – May 10, 2025), the esteemed French pediatric psychiatrist and epileptologist, renowned globally for her pioneering contributions to epilepsy research, passed away, leaving behind a profound legacy in the field of child neurology. Her groundbreaking identification and description of Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy in 1978, later named Dravet Syndrome, transformed the understanding and management of severe childhood epilepsies.
Born in 1936, Dravet graduated in medicine from Aix-Marseille University in 1961 and subsequently completed her residency training in Pediatrics in Marseille from 1962 to 1965. She earned her MD with a thesis titled "Encéphalopathie Épileptique de l’Enfant avec Pointe-onde lente diffuse (“petit mal variant”)" in 1965 and was certified as a psychiatrist in 1971.
From 1965 to 1988, Dravet lived and worked as a pediatric resident physician at the Centre Saint Paul in Marseille, collaborating closely with notable colleagues such as Henri Gastaut, Joseph Roger, and René Soulayrol. Between 1989 and 2000, she served as Associate Medical Director of the same institution.
Dravet's meticulous observations led to her initial description of Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy (SMEI) in 1978, distinguishing it from Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. In 1981, together with Michelle Bureau, she described benign myoclonic epilepsy of infancy. Her work significantly advanced the understanding of genetic epilepsies, notably through the discovery in 2001 that mutations in the SCN1A gene were present in most Dravet Syndrome cases.
Throughout her career, Dravet actively participated in the delineation of epileptic syndromes and contributed extensively to epilepsy literature, co-authoring influential books and numerous scientific articles. Her major publications include seminal works such as "Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy in Infants and its Related Syndromes" (2000), and "The Core Dravet Syndrome Phenotype" (2011).
Dravet's contributions were recognized through prestigious honors including the Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Légion d’honneur in 2011 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International League Against Epilepsy in 2017. She held numerous leadership roles, including presidency of the French League Against Epilepsy (1997–1999), membership in the Task Force on Classification and Terminology of the International League Against Epilepsy (1996–2004), and organization of the first National Epilepsy Day in France in 2000.
After her retirement in 2000, Dravet continued to advocate passionately for children with epilepsy, regularly attending the Childhood Epilepsy Unit at the Policlinico A. Gemelli of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome, Italy, as an Honorary Consultant. She remained deeply involved in patient care, research on cognitive development, and international advocacy efforts. Dravet's passing is deeply felt within the global neurological community. Her life and career have left an indelible mark characterized by innovation, compassion, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children worldwide. She trained and inspired numerous epileptologists globally, participated in countless patient and parent associations, and was a revered international speaker. She is survived by family, colleagues, countless grateful patients, and the international community of neurologists who continue her life's work.
Dr. Charlotte Dravet’s extraordinary contributions to pediatric epilepsy will forever be remembered and honored.