Helene Emsellem, MD is a neurologist and sleep specialist with over 40 years of experience in the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders. She is “Old School” in that she respects the need for an in-depth consultation to understand the nuances and details of each patient’s sleep-wake complaint and formulate an appropriate diagnostic and treatment plan. She started the first sleep laboratory at George Washington University Medical Center while she was on the academic faculty in 1985 and has been a thought leader in the national sleep community for the past 20 years.
Dr. Emsellem specializes in conditions such as:
- Sleep Apnea
- Insomnia
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Narcolepsy/Hypersomnia
- Circadian rhythm Disorders
She opened The Center for Sleep & Wake Disorders in 1995 and ran a dynamic sleep practice, sleep laboratory and clinical research trials division. She has recently left and formed the Sleep Health Institute to focus on individualized patient care. Dr. Emsellem’s areas of interest include the full spectrum of disorders of sleep and wakefulness from adolescence to the elderly. As an active cyclist, sailor, skier, mother of 3 and grandmother of 8, Dr. Emsellem appreciates the need for optimal sleep quality to function at the level we each demand of ourselves.
Dr. Emsellem is an accomplished author, known for her expertise in sleep health. She has written several publications, including "Snooze... or Lose! Ten 'No-War' Ways to Improve Your Teen's Sleep Habits", which offers practical strategies for helping adolescents develop healthier sleep routines.