Get to Know the Sleep Foundation Team

Audrey Wells, MD attended University of Michigan Medical School and went on to train at Washington University School of Medicine in pediatrics and pediatric pulmonary medicine. It was during this time that she developed a specific interest in adult and pediatric sleep medicine. She returned to her home state of New Mexico to complete a sleep medicine fellowship. As Chief Medical Officer, she led the development of OmniSleep Medicine Centers to become a comprehensive sleep clinic for both adults and children from 2010 to 2018. She then relocated to St. Paul Minnesota and worked for University of Minnesota Physicians. She completed an Obesity Medicine Fellowship at Columbia University and now holds three board certifications in pediatrics, sleep medicine, and obesity medicine. In 2021 she founded Super Sleep MD, an online platform for education, support, and group coaching experiences specifically for people struggling with obstructive sleep apnea treatments. She helps people with sleep apnea get fully treated without sacrificing comfort. Through Super Sleep MD, she offers a comprehensive library of self-directed courses, a group coaching program, and a private Facebook community. Dr. Wells also has an individual consultation program for physicians who want to optimize their sleep to improve performance, vitality, and well-being.

Dr. Abhinav Singh, board certified in Sleep Medicine and Internal Medicine, is the Medical Director of the Indiana Sleep Center, which is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Marian University College of Medicine in Indianapolis, where he developed and teaches a Sleep Medicine rotation to medical students. Dr. Singh’s research and clinical practice focuses on the entire myriad of sleep disorders, including excessive daytime sleepiness, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, chronic snoring, insomnia, and sleep education. He firmly believes in his philosophy of “360 degrees of sleep awareness,” in which every single person must be educated about the importance of sleep so that they can further educate others. Along with being a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Dr. Singh is a peer reviewer for the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Sleep Health (from the National Sleep Foundation) and the Journal of Sleep Disorders: Treatment and Care. Dr. Singh is co-author with Charlotte Jensen of the forthcoming nonfiction book “Sleep to Heal: 7 Simple Steps to Better Sleep” (Humanix Books, 2023).

Dustin Cotliar holds a medical degree from the State University of NY (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine, and a master’s in public health from Columbia University, where he focused on healthcare policy and management. He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine, with over eight years of practice that includes emergency medicine, urgent care, and telemedicine. His interest in the field of sleep health began during his residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai- Beth Israel, where working irregular hours and nightshifts led him to explore methods to enhance sleep quality and well-being.

Brandon R. Peters, M.D., FAASM, is a double board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine specialist and fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine who currently practices at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Seattle. He is a leading voice in sleep medicine who works at the cutting edge of medicine and technology to advance the field.

Dr. Anis Rehman, MD is an American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certified physician in Internal Medicine as well as Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism who practices in Illinois. He completed his residency at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, and fellowship training at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. Dr. Rehman has several dozens of research publications in reputable journals and conferences. He also enjoys traveling and landscape photography.

As a board-certified sleep medicine physician with over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Adavadkar is an expert in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders in both children and adults, as well as addressing sleep issues experienced by veterans.

Dr. David M. Rapoport, M.D., is a professor of pulmonology at the Icahn School of Medicine and the Sleep Medicine Research Program Director at Mount Sinai in New York City. He is a leading authority on sleep apnea and holds multiple patents for innovations in nasal CPAP treatment. Dr. Rapoport founded the Foundation for Research in Sleep Disorders, a nonprofit that promotes scientific discovery and professional education.

Wendy M. Troxel, Ph.D., is a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corp. and is an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Utah. Her research focuses on the interface between sleep, the social environment, health, and the implications for public policy. Troxel is the leading authority on sleep in the context of close relationships and is the author of “Sharing the Covers: Every Couple’s Guide to Better Sleep.” She has served as principal investigator of multiple research studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and private foundations. Troxel’s TEDx talk on sleep in adolescents has received more than 2.4 million views and is at the forefront of policy discussions on the impact of early school start times on adolescent sleep. She is an active clinical psychologist focusing on behavioral (nonpharmacologic) treatments for sleep disorders. Troxel has served in leadership roles in several professional sleep societies, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the Sleep Research Society. She also is an associate editor for the journals Sleep Health and Behavioral Sleep Medicine and served on the National Institutes of Health Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board.

Matthew Walker, Ph.D., is professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and founder and director of the school’s Center for Human Sleep Science. Walker is the author of The New York Times and international bestseller Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. His TED Talk “Sleep is Your Superpower” has garnered more than 16 million views. He has received numerous funding awards from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health and is a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. Walker’s research examines the impact of sleep on human health and disease. He has been featured on numerous television and radio outlets, including CBS’ “60 Minutes,” National Geographic Channel, NOVA Science, NPR, and the BBC. He is also host of The Matt Walker Podcast.

Dr. Joel Gould has been practicing in Southern California since 2001. His General and Cosmetic Dental Practices treat patients of all ages and offer a broad range of treatments. Dr. Gould gained experience in pediatric dentistry, geriatrics, and hospital dentistry in Vancouver Canada for 10 years before moving to the Los Angeles area. Dr. Gould has been treating obstructive sleep apnea in Manhattan Beach for several years before he was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2015 himself. His research into the underlying cause of this strange new disease led him to create his new “Sleep Restoration Program” designed to change the public’s perception of the ever-growing epidemic of insomnia and sleep apnea. His new book “The Modern Epidemic” describes a new organic health paradigm regarding treating autoimmune disease and chronic illness organically without pharmaceutical medications. The program focuses on sleep as an antiaging, and natural regeneration. His ultimate goal is to transform the world of insomnia, snoring and sleep apnea with his unique sleep restoration program. Dr. Gould strongly feels that sleep disorders are both reversible and preventable, which opposes what is commonly accepted in medicine.

Dr. Vyas of Sleepless in NOLA Sleep Coaching is a Pediatrician, Public Health Specialist, and Board-Certified Sleep Expert. Getting babies to sleep is one of the most controversial, contradictory, and confusing aspects of parenting and Dr. Vyas not only takes parenting goals but the child’s developmental goals into consideration with her recommendations. She is knowledgeable not only of the common sleep approaches but more importantly, has a pediatric medical knowledge base. Her patients and clients adore their sleep doctor because she considers everything when giving advice knowing that sleep is not a solitary issue but intimately involved with the child’s holistic wellbeing, diet, development, and schedule. Dr. Nilong Vyas is the mother of two well-rested boys and has been putting children to sleep professionally since 2014! She is a firm believer in the value of sleep (for the well-being of both children and their parents) and the need for healthy sleep habits. Her mantra ‘from good sleep comes good eaters, readers, and behaviors’ is the foundation of her practice. She passionately believes that well-rested children develop better socially, emotionally, and academically with fewer behavior problems. A well-rested child will result in a more harmonious household for all.

Dr. Dimitriu’s significant experience in both psychiatry and sleep medicine has taught him two important things. Sleep is fundamental to almost anything mind related – from anxiety to depression, energy, motivation, and even memory. He has also learned that everyone truly is a mix of nature and nurture – biology as well as psychology, and you have to treat the whole. With this balanced approach, I have seen truly amazing outcomes for some of the most challenging cases. I work as the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, and am board certified in psychiatry as well as sleep medicine. My practice is a balanced mix of optimizing for peak performance by day, and peak restorative sleep by night. My patients are my teachers, and I work with some of the brightest minds to achieve peace, performance, and lasting results.

Dr. Jennifer Iyo is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who works in an outpatient orthopedic clinic in Seattle. She attended A.T. Still University in Phoenix, Arizona, where she earned her DPT. She specializes in hands-on manual therapy and tailored exercise programs for patients of all ages and ailments.

Dr. Michael Grandner is a licensed clinical psychologist, board-certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine. He is the Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Banner-University Medical Center in Tucson. Dr. Grandner is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, Medicine, Nutritional Sciences, and Clinical Translational Science at the University of Arizona. He is an internationally recognized expert in sleep health, has over 200 academic publications, and frequently consults with health, technology, athletics, and nutritional companies and organizations regarding sleep, health, and performance. Read more about him at michaelgrandner.com.

Carly Snyder, M.D., is a Reproductive and Perinatal Psychiatrist who integrates traditional psychiatry with holistic practices. She earned her medical degree from NYU School of Medicine and completed her general psychiatry residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center, including additional elective training in reproductive psychiatry at the Payne Whitney Women’s Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Snyder operates a private practice on the Upper East Side in NYC and serves as voluntary faculty at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell and Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Centers. Dr. Snyder started her reproductive psychiatry career as the director of women’s mental health at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in the OB-GYN department. She also worked as the director of the reproductive and perinatal senior elective for fourth-year psychiatry residents at Mount Sinai Beth Israel while volunteering at the Payne Whitney Women’s Clinic at Cornell. Dr. Snyder has since transitioned to full-time private practice while continuing her involvement with residents at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Snyder is a former board member and currently on the Advisory Council for Postpartum Support International. She is a member of the Independent Doctors of New York, Robyn network, and Women’s Mental Health Consortium. Dr. Snyder has received numerous awards and honors, including being named a 2023 Super Doctor and New York Super Doctors Rising Star for four consecutive years. She frequently contributes as an expert to various popular parenting websites and news outlets. Dr. Snyder hosts a weekly radio show, MDforMoms, which streams live and is available as a podcast. She also writes original content for her website, Medium, and HuffPost blog, among other platforms. Dr. Snyder lives in NYC and the North Fork with her husband and three children. When not working, she values spending time with her family and enjoys skiing, gardening, and running marathons. For more information about Dr. Snyder, please visit her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages.

Maya Nambisan, M.D., MPH, is a board certified OB-GYN with over 14 years’ experience in the field. She also holds a master’s degree in public health from Yale School of Epidemiology and Public Health. Her interest in women’s health began when she managed the Anti-Epileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry at Massachusetts General Hospital. She then attended medical school at the University of Illinois and completed her residency at White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles. Currently, she serves as a full scope OB-GYN for the rural communities of California’s northern central valley. She is one of a few robotically-trained, minimally invasive surgeons in the area. She is a strong patient advocate and believes in shared medical decision-making. Maya has a passion for writing and holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of California at Berkeley. Her goal has always been to use media to strengthen health education and access. Throughout the years, she has enjoyed exploring the intersection of public health and women’s health through the dissemination of information via written content. She has been published in scientific journals such as American Surgeon, Neurology, and Birth Defects Research. She has also written for numerous local newspapers and magazines. She volunteers her time with Doctors for America, advocating for reproductive rights and access to medication. In addition, she serves as a women’s health expert on the virtual medical health platform eGlobalDoctors.com. As a member of the group, she triages patients in rural health settings around the world and has helped expedite care to pregnant women with severe COVID-19 in India and other southeast Asian countries. She also presents webinars on important topics in women’s health, such as breastfeeding, menstrual disorders, and the female climacteric. She believes virtual platforms are crucial in expanding health information to those who historically have had poor access to care. She is excited to lend her expertise as a medical reviewer for Sleep Doctor.

Dr. David Rosen’s passion to help improve America’s sleep led him to launch renumasleep.com, a digital health platform focused on providing streamlined and accessible care for obstructive sleep apnea, in August 2022. Dr. Rosen graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in mathematics. He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed his internal medicine residency at Beth Israel Medical Center. He trained in sleep medicine at JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey and completed a pulmonary and critical care fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. During his final year of the fellowship, he was honored with the appointment of chief fellow. Dr. Rosen is board-certified in internal medicine, sleep medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine. At the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic, he was amongst the front-line physicians treating COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit. He faced ethical and emotional challenges he never anticipated and will never forget. Dr. Rosen enjoys the challenge and satisfaction of helping his patients attain better sleep and quality of life. His interest in sleep medicine began with an undergraduate psychology class taught by a nationally recognized expert in sleep disorders. Decades later, he continues to marvel at the various advancements and discoveries in the treatment of sleep disorders. Dr. Rosen serves as a peer reviewer for the premier sleep medicine journal, the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. He also serves on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s Political Action Committee. This committee helps lobby government officials to promote national policy initiatives that benefit the sleep of all Americans. Dr. Rosen lectures regularly to the general public on sleep medicine topics. He has presented research at various national conferences, has given lectures to physician peers at regional conferences, and his works have been published in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Lulu Guo is a graduate of the prestigious Medical Scholars program at Michigan State University and was admitted into medical school at the age of seventeen after completing undergraduate studies in two years. She is double board-certified in Family and Sleep Medicine. She completed her Sleep Medicine Fellowship at the Michael S. Aldrich Sleep Disorders Laboratory and Clinic at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. She is also a graduate of the Andrew Weil Integrative Medicine fellowship from the University of Arizona and is committed to a personalized approach to treating a patient’s sleep concerns. She is regularly invited as a speaker for national and international conferences as she shares her expertise in tailored approaches to treating sleep disorders. Dr. Guo is currently residing in Bellevue, Washington, and helps patients achieve the best sleep as she believes a good night’s sleep is imperative to maintaining optimal health and is her foundational approach to whole person care.

Dr. Alyssa Dweck is a practicing gynecologist in Westchester County, New York. She provides care to women of all ages and has delivered thousands of babies. A graduate of Barnard College, she has a Masters Degree in Human Nutrition from Columbia University and her Medical Degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, now named Drexel University. Dr. Dweck trained at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, where she was Chief Resident in 1994.

Dr. Sherrie Neustein is a board certified Pediatrician and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics who has enjoyed over 15 years in practice. She graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University and with honors from the Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Neustein completed her residency training at the Northwell Health Cohen Children’s Medical Center and an international fellowship in medical ethics.

Gerard J. Meskill, MD is board certified in both neurology and sleep medicine, and he is the founder and CEO of Tricoastal Narcolepsy and Sleep Disorders Center. The “Tricoastal” moniker references his background: he completed neurology residency on the East Coast at Long Island Jewish Medical Center – where he served as chief resident, sleep fellowship on the West Coast at Stanford University, and he now practices sleep medicine and neurology on the Gulf Coast in the greater Houston, Texas area. In the sleep world, he is known for expertise in the treatment of narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and insomnia. He is published in peer-reviewed journals and texts, as well as online media. He has served as principal investigator in clinical research trials focused on narcolepsy and OSA. He regularly serves on narcolepsy treatment advisory boards and founded A.W.A.K.E. Greater Houston, a support group for individuals afflicted with narcolepsy and other sleep disorders that works in partnership with the Narcolepsy Network and the American Sleep Apnea Association. He has been recognized by Texas Monthly magazine as one of Texas’s Super Doctors Rising Stars (2018-22). Dr. Meskill’s professional passion is to improve the lives of patients suffering from disorders of central hypersomnia, such as narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.