The Division has one of the few NIH-NHLBI supported sleep and circadian biology research training programs in the country. Since 1998, a total of 89 post-doctoral, 31 pre-doctoral trainees, and 55 minority summer students have been participants. The division currently has 8 post-doctoral research fellows and 4 pre-doctoral research fellows each year who participate in a program that addresses the goals of the NCSDR in providing both breadth and depth to training by ensuring that all trainees complete a series of core requirements, elective courses and didactic sessions to supplement the specialized training and individual research experiences in a preceptor's laboratory. In connection with their research projects, trainees have the opportunity to learn state-of-the-art techniques from bench to clinical research. Additionally, this program hosts 3 - 4 summer underrepresented medical students annually.
The division has a clinical sleep disorders training program, in conjunction with Massachusetts General Hospital, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The program consists of 1 year of clinical training in Sleep Medicine. Research opportunities are also available. The director of this program is Lawrence J. Epstein, MD.
The Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders faculty has a ongoing collaboration with the Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine to develop a sleep and health education program to enhance the education of medical students, post-graduate medical trainees, practicing physicians, and the general public on sleep health, sleep science, and sleep medicine. The aim of this web-based educational program is to increase both local and national awareness of these issues.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital division faculty member, Stuart F. Quan, MD, serves as the editor-in-chief of the program with participation of other division faculty members as well as sleep faculty from other Harvard teaching institutions. The website is located at www.understandingsleep.org and has web modules on Healthy Sleep, Insufficient Sleep, Sleep Apnea and Narcolepsy. Additional material and updates are made continuously.
The Division organizes and participates in periodic Continuing Medical Education courses. In addition, there are web-based offerings on sleep topics offered through the Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Medical Education.
