Education and Training

Our 12-month ACGME-accredited clinical fellowship program offers an outstanding comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare physicians to become exceptional board-certified specialists in academic sleep medicine. Trainees complete rotations in numerous settings including the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  

The program also emphasizes research opportunities to further equip physicians interested in becoming independent investigators. After the initial year, fellows may go on to pursue a 2-3 year postdoctoral research fellowship in one of four distinct tracks (Basic Science, Patient-Oriented Research, Clinical Epidemiology, Translational Research, Health Policy, & Medical Education).

Our graduates have achieved a 100% board pass rate and are consistently successful in securing desired positions across the country. Furthermore, countless alumni go on to become leaders in the field of sleep medicine. 

Applicants to the sleep fellowship-training program are required to have completed a residency in internal medicine, neurology, otolaryngology, pediatrics, psychiatry, family medicine or anesthesiology. Individuals with subspecialty training such as pulmonary medicine are encouraged to apply. 

The University of Pennsylvania Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program participates in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). Applications will ONLY be accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Please check the ERAS and NRMP websites for additional information including specific instructions and timelines for applications and match dates, respectively.

Additional documents required for application include:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Personal Statement
3. Three Letters of Recommendation (one must be from the applicant's most recent Program Director)
4. USMLE Transcript
5. Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) or Dean's Letter
6. Medical School Transcript
7. ECFMG Status Report, if applicable

Given the multidisciplinary structure of the program, the fellowship curriculum is tailored to allow each trainee to concentrate on a particular area of specialization, i.e. pediatric or adult sleep medicine, through established tracks.

Under ACGME guidelines, each fellow is required to complete a core curriculum that meets the minimum requirements for clinical training in both adult and pediatric sleep medicine while allowing flexibility to concentrate further in a particular area of interest.

For pediatric track trainees, this will require:

• Outpatient pediatric sleep medicine experiences  at CHOP
• Outpatient and inpatient adult sleep medicine experiences spread over the University of Pennslyvania Health System (UPHS) and Philadelphia VAMC sites
• Continuity practice experiences in both adult and pediatric sleep medicine
• Review of polysomnography and other sleep-related diagnostic studies
• Additional electives to allow for a concentrated experience in sleep disorders in children

For adult track trainees, this will require:

• Outpatient and inpatient adult sleep medicine experiences spread over the UPHS and Philadelphia VAMC sites
• Outpatient pediatric sleep medicine experiences  at CHOP
• Continuity practice experience in adult sleep medicine*
• Review of polysomnography and other sleep-related diagnostic studies
• Elective time to allow for a concentrated experience in sleep disorders in adult

*Adult track trainees can also request an optional second continuity practice experience in pediatric sleep medicine.