Choosing the University of Washington for my sleep medicine training was an intuitive decision driven by its diversity in mentorship and its inclusive, supportive culture. The program’s faculty encompasses a spectrum of expertise, from pulmonology to psychology, providing me with a well-rounded education. What truly set UW apart was the collegial and warm atmosphere, where I didn’t just feel like a student, but an equal among colleagues. Learning alongside experts who shared their diverse perspectives enhanced my skillset profoundly. During my job search, the reputation of UW for delivering top-notch training proved to be a significant asset, elevating my candidacy and leading to multiple enticing offers. My decision to train at UW proved to be a catalyst for my career, equipping me with skills and a network that opened doors to exciting opportunities.
Matthew Haley, MD 2023-2024 Sleep Fellow
I chose UW Sleep for the impressive and dedicated faculty from whom I anticipated (and did) learn a lot. Faculty were not only from diverse training backgrounds, but had extensive experience clinically, as well as roles in national guideline committees and AASM. For me, this combination allowed for a great educational experience where I could learn from those who have seen it all and are playing a role in the future for the field of Sleep Medicine. The clinical sites provided a comprehensive training format in which I was sure to learn OSA down pat, but also develop experience in other, rarer diseases within Sleep Medicine.
Tha Saw, MD 2023-2024 Sleep Fellow
I felt like the Sleep Medicine program at UW was truly representative of what Sleep Medicine is as a field. The prospect of working with faculty from multidisciplinary backgrounds (Peds Neuro, Peds Pulm, ENT, Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, and Med-Peds, in addition to IM, Neurology, and PCCM) in different clinical settings made me think that I would get well rounded training here. I’m happy to say the experience lived up to the expectation! In addition to the bread and butter, I’ve learned so much about unique aspects of Sleep Medicine thanks to the breadth and depth of clinical knowledge the faculty bring to the table. The pediatric sleep track was another huge draw coming from Med-Peds, as there are very few programs out there that had a balanced, well-integrated pediatric component. Another strength of this program is being able to learn from clinical psychologists while rotating through CBT-I, image rehearsal therapy, and PAP desensitization sessions. Having a VA rotation is another huge strength, as our veteran population face a unique set of challenges related to sleep due to past traumas. Lastly, the Friday sessions with Dr. Kapur allowed us to debrief the week and address any lingering questions or curiosities we may have, in addition to reviewing sleep studies on a more granular level.
Supaksh Gupta, MD 2022-2023 Sleep Fellow
I chose the UW Sleep Medicine fellowship for training because of the combination of its varied training sites – each with unique patient populations – and its outstanding clinical education, all without compromising on location. The faculty, composed of remarkable educators and compassionate individuals, is dedicated to helping you achieve your career aspirations, while also continuously working to improve the program. Training here has been a privilege, and the decision to train here is one I’d make again in a heartbeat.
Ifeoma Oriaku, MD 2022-2023 Sleep Fellow
I chose to come to UW after I heard such high praise about the education UW sleep medicine program offered from my prior fellow at Temple University Hospital. During my interview, I perceived intentionality in how the interview was structured, though the interview day lasted from 12 pm-3:30 PST; I left with all questions answered, and I got to interact with specific attendings I had requested before the interview in addition to the already scheduled panel without feeling rushed or the quality of interaction compromised. With the interview, I gathered that the sleep program at UW offers well-rounded training as you get to work with and learn from attendings from varying subspecialties, including pulmonary medicine, ENT, neurology, psychiatry, and pediatrician. My experience over the past year has held true. It has been a pleasure to work with every faculty, but specific unique experiences stand out; the opportunity to rotate with CBT-I, world-renowned ENT surgeon Dr. Weaver, collaborate with Dr. Gharib in cardiology embedded sleep clinic, in-depth exposure to pediatric sleep medicine, and rotation through the VA with their strong sleep behavioral medicine team and thus learning how to manage veterans with PTSD and sleep disorder, and the opportunity to partake in the Seattle chest grand rounds (an impressive exposure to continued learning for pulmonary critical care via case presentation and discussion). My training at UW sleep medicine has been nothing short of amazing. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from a group of clinicians committed to my learning but notably a program that continually sought feedback on improving the program to benefit the next generation of fellows. I cannot recommend UW Sleep Medicine enough as a place to train!
Shanta Pillai, DO 2022-2023 Sleep Fellow
I ranked UW Sleep Medicine as my first choice primarily for the pediatric-track and diversity of training sites. After having completed the program, I could not be happier with my decision. As a pediatrics-trained physician, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed working with unfamiliar demographics, this helped me develop a very holistic and well-rounded foundation of sleep medicine. In terms of employment, I did not realize how desirable it would be to come from a program with a pediatrics track. Multiple employers explicitly stated they were excited to see my experience at Seattle Children’s and that they were in need of sleep medicine physicians who had such training. Overall, I am thrilled with my experience at this program, I have found lifelong mentors and friends who have helped me grow personally and professionally.
Justin Blaty, MD 2021-2022 Sleep Fellow
I chose the UW Sleep Medicine fellowship for its strength in pediatric sleep medicine. With a large standalone pediatric sleep lab and attendings from many different pediatric specialties (neurology, family medicine, pulmonology, etc.), Seattle Children’s Sleep Medicine is among the best in the country. Through my time at UW, the opportunities available for research and the focus on teaching stood out to me. Not only are the faculty (adult and pediatric) experts in the field, but they are also approachable and eager to share their knowledge.
Yeilim Cho, MD 2021-2022 Sleep Fellow
UW sleep medicine provided me with diverse experiences that prepared me to independently practice sleep medicine with confidence. With three distinct training sites with faculty who are committed to education, one will be exposed to all aspects of clinical sleep medicine. Another strength of the program is one’s career development through many opportunities to present and discuss research. One will be well equipped for successive transitions to an academic career. It has been a privilege to become a proud alumnus of the UW sleep medicine.
Zachariah Dorey-Stein, MD 2021-2022 Sleep Fellow
The UW Sleep Medicine fellowship was a wonderful training ground due to the variety of clinical environments fellows rotate through including a safety net hospital, Seattle Children’s, VA and a tertiary-care referral center. The diversity of the faculty’s expertise spans multiple specialties which provides for a well-rounded education. The mentorship I received gave me the opportunity to meet, engage and work with leaders in the field of sleep. Lastly, administrative and ancillary support streamlined my ability to focus on clinical and scholarly pursuits that are essential in a one-year fellowship. After graduating from the program, I feel confident about practicing autonomously as a sleep provider.
Ankit Amin, MD 2020-2021 Sleep Fellow
The UW Sleep Medicine fellowship was my top choice because I felt this program offered me the best opportunity to become a well-rounded Sleep Medicine physician in a collaborative and supportive environment with a diverse, multi-disciplinary faculty. Not only did the range and volume of clinical exposure enable me to learn how to confidently diagnose and manage a broad spectrum of sleep disorders, but I felt the personalized and supervised approach to reading and interpreting sleep studies was invaluable. Most importantly, I received exceptional mentorship and guidance which helped me grow both professionally and personally throughout my time at UW.
Jeremy Chan, MD 2020-2021 Sleep Fellow
I chose UW because of the depth of faculty that the program had. There are few programs where you can be taught by neurologists (pediatric and adult), pulmonologists (pediatric and adult) along with a psychiatrist and psychologist. This was very apparent during our teaching rounds because we all were able to learn from each specialty and how they approached each problem. Lastly, I was impressed by the faculty mentorship that I received at all sites and truly found lifelong colleagues that I can call my friends.
Vidhi Kapoor, MD 2020-2021 Sleep Fellow
I chose the UW sleep medicine fellowship not only for its strong foundation in both adult and pediatric sleep medicine training but also for the diversity in specialties of the attendings. Throughout fellowship I have really come to appreciate the strong mentorship in career growth I received from the program faculty.
Weston Powell, MD, PhD 2019-2020 Sleep Fellow
The sleep fellowship at UW stood out to me for excellent mentorship and teaching at each clinical site. By seeing the diversity of practice at SCH, UW, HMC, and the VA I feel very prepared to grow my career into novel areas. Furthermore, the opportunity to have emphasized training in pediatrics in a division that spanned pediatric neurology and pulmonology was unparalleled and I was able to explore my research interests with strong support from the faculty.
Rahul Sharma, MD 2018-2019 Sleep Fellow
The unique 1:1 teaching sessions with the program director, the diversity in training sites, and the overall happiness I observed among faculty and fellows on my interview day is why I chose UW over others. Having finished fellowship, I feel the program exceeded my expectations and prepared me extremely well for independent practice.
