Sleep Fellowship

Overview

The George Washington University Hospital Sleep Medicine fellowship is one (1) year in length and composed of clinical and didactic experiences in a variety of settings and patient populations. Our program accepts three (3) fellows each year, 2 for the adult track and 1 for the pediatric track.The fellow in the pediatric track will spend 75% of the time at CNMC and 25% at the adult sites. As a fellow, you will be expected to show increasing level of knowledge and skill in areas of physical exam, differential diagnosis, assessment, appropriate testing and analysis, patient care management, and leadership to a level of independence appropriate for an entry level of practice in sleep medicine by the completion of the program.

Specialists in sleep medicine are expected to:

  • participate in an interdisciplinary care of patients of all ages that incorporates aspects of psychiatry, neurology, internal medicine, epidemiology, surgery, pediatrics and basic science;
  • learn the physiology and neurobiology underlying sleep and wakefulness;
  • diagnose and manage sleep disorder patients in outpatient and inpatient settings.

You will be exposed to patients within the major categories of sleep disorders, including:

  • apnea and other sleep-related breathing disorders
  • parasomnias
  • circadian rhythm disorders
  • insomnia
  • narcolepsy and related excessive daytime sleepiness disorders
  • sleep problems related to other factors and diseases such as medications
  • psychiatric and medical disorders.

You will learn the procedures and diagnostic tests necessary for the evaluation of sleep disorders, including:

  • polysomnography
  • multiple sleep latency testing
  • multiple wake testing
  • portable sleep monitoring
  • actigraphy

The fellowship consists of both adult and pediatric experience, as well as core continuity sleep clinics held at the VA, GW Neurology & Pulmonary, and Children's National Health System in order to provide a diverse patient population, age range, and adequate exposure to both genders.

During your fellowship, you will develop and refine skills in many areas, including “people” skills, such as communication and leadership, basic and clinical knowledge of sleep disorders, health system information, government influence and regulation, and how to assess and improve yourself as a provider and educator.

Current Fellow Application Process

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Sleep Medicine Fellowship, you must have completed an ACGME accredited residency program in anesthesiology, family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, otolaryngology, pediatrics, or psychiatry.

For foreign nationals interested in applying, a J-1 visa is required for admission.

We do not accept H-1B visas.

Application

To apply for the Sleep Medicine Fellowship, all applicants must use the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).  We participate with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

The application form and all supporting documents must be submitted to ERAS no later than August 31, 2017 to be considered. Supporting documents include:

  • Personal statement
  • Official medical school transcript
  • USMLE/COMLEX transcript
  • A Dean's letter (MSPE)
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation from physicians who have served in a direct supervisory capacity.
  • One (1) letter of recommendation from a division head or department chairman.
  • A valid ECFMG certificate (if applicable)

Questions

With any questions, please contact the fellowship coordinator: Christiana Asante casante@mfa.gwu.edu or (202) 655-5887. 

Faculty

Lynn Kataria

Lynn Kataria, MD

DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Chief, Neurology Education DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Assistant Professor of Neurology George Washington University

Director, Sleep Medicine Fellowship, George Washington University

 

Marshall Balish, MD

DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center 

Chairman, Neurology, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Associate Professor of Neurology George Washington University

Elias Karroum

Elias Karroum, MD, PhD

George Washington University

Assistant Professor of Neurology

Associate Program Director of the Sleep Fellowship

Vivek Jain

Vivek Jain, MD

George Washington University

Director, GW Sleep Disorders Center

Associate Professor of Medicine

Daniel Lewin

Dr. Daniel Lewin, PhD, DABSM

Children's National Health System

Associate Director, Pediatric Sleep Medicine

Director, Pulmonary Behavioral Medicine

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry

Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

Children’s National Medical Center

George Washington University School of Medicine

Gustavo Nino Barrera

Gustavo Nino Barrera, MD

Children's National Health System

Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

Pulmonologist, Sleep Medicine Sleep Specialist