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Meet Our Team
Director
Christopher Drake, PhD
Christopher L. Drake, PhD, FAASM, CBSM is a board-certified sleep specialist and internationally recognized expert in sleep and circadian rhythm disorders. He is professor of medicine at the Michigan State College of Human Medicine and serves as the Director of Sleep Research for Henry Ford Health where he oversees NIH and Industry clinical trials in insomnia, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, sleep apnea, and depression. He is the Insomnia Section Editor for Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine and serves as Associate Editor for SLEEP Advances and Behavioral Sleep Medicine. In 2022 he co-authored The Wisdom of Dreams: Science, Synchronicity, and the Language of the Soul, Routledge. He served as Chairman of the National Sleep Foundation from 2013-2014. and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Sleep Research Society in 2015. In 2016, Dr. Drake received the Pioneer Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He has been funded by the National Institutes of Health since 2004 and has authored over 200 peer reviewed publications in the field. View a complete list of Dr. Drake’s published work in My Bibliography or view his Henry Ford profile here.
Christopher L. Drake, PhD, FAASM, CBSM is a board-certified sleep specialist and internationally recognized expert in sleep and circadian rhythm disorders. He is professor of medicine at the Michigan State College of Human Medicine and serves as the Director of Sleep Research for Henry Ford Health where he oversees NIH and Industry clinical trials in insomnia, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, sleep apnea, and depression. He is the Insomnia Section Editor for Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine and serves as Associate Editor for SLEEP Advances and Behavioral Sleep Medicine. In 2022 he co-authored The Wisdom of Dreams: Science, Synchronicity, and the Language of the Soul, Routledge. He served as Chairman of the National Sleep Foundation from 2013-2014. and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Sleep Research Society in 2015. In 2016, Dr. Drake received the Pioneer Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He has been funded by the National Institutes of Health since 2004 and has authored over 200 peer reviewed publications in the field. View a complete list of Dr. Drake’s published work in My Bibliography or view his Henry Ford profile here.
Founder
Thomas Roth, PhD
Thomas Roth, PhD is founder of the Sleep Disorders and Research Center at HFH, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at Wayne State University School of Medicine, and a Clinical Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at the University Of Michigan College Of Medicine in Ann Arbor. Some of Dr. Roth’s notable positions include President of the Sleep Research Society, Founding President of the National Sleep Foundation, Chairman of the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board of the National Institutes of Health, and member of the Board of Directors of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. In addition, he is the former chairman of the World Health Organization’s worldwide project on sleep and health. His areas of interest include sleep loss, sleep fragmentation, and deviation from sleep processes including pharmacological effects and sleep pathologies. Dr. Roth has received the National Sleep Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, a Distinguished Research Award from the Sleep Research Society, and the Nathanial Kleitman Award from the Academy of Sleep Medicine. He has authored over 850 publications throughout his career.
Thomas Roth, PhD is founder of the Sleep Disorders and Research Center at HFH, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at Wayne State University School of Medicine, and a Clinical Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at the University Of Michigan College Of Medicine in Ann Arbor. Some of Dr. Roth’s notable positions include President of the Sleep Research Society, Founding President of the National Sleep Foundation, Chairman of the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board of the National Institutes of Health, and member of the Board of Directors of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. In addition, he is the former chairman of the World Health Organization’s worldwide project on sleep and health. His areas of interest include sleep loss, sleep fragmentation, and deviation from sleep processes including pharmacological effects and sleep pathologies. Dr. Roth has received the National Sleep Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, a Distinguished Research Award from the Sleep Research Society, and the Nathanial Kleitman Award from the Academy of Sleep Medicine. He has authored over 850 publications throughout his career.
Principal Investigators
David Kalmbach, PhD
David Kalmbach, PhD is Co-Director of the HFH Perinatal Sleep Health Institute. He is a clinical psychologist and completed his postdoctoral residency at the University of Michigan Medical School in Behavioral Sleep Medicine and Perinatal Mental Health, after which he completed a 3-year fellowship in sleep research funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. He has received funding for research in insomnia, cardiometabolic disorders, psychiatric illness, and the treatment of sleep disorders in pregnant and postnatal women. He is a world-leading expert in perinatal sleep and mental health, and developed a mindfulness-based sleep program for pregnant women with insomnia. Dr. Kalmbach also leads research examining the relationship between sleep and suicide, and has published on how insomnia therapeutics may play a role in mitigating suicide-risk. Presently, Dr. Kalmbach is conducting an NIMH-funded clinical trial evaluating cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based sleep programs for pregnant women. View a complete list of Dr. Kalmbach’s published work in My Bibliography or view his Henry Ford profile here.
David Kalmbach, PhD is Co-Director of the HFH Perinatal Sleep Health Institute. He is a clinical psychologist and completed his postdoctoral residency at the University of Michigan Medical School in Behavioral Sleep Medicine and Perinatal Mental Health, after which he completed a 3-year fellowship in sleep research funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. He has received funding for research in insomnia, cardiometabolic disorders, psychiatric illness, and the treatment of sleep disorders in pregnant and postnatal women. He is a world-leading expert in perinatal sleep and mental health, and developed a mindfulness-based sleep program for pregnant women with insomnia. Dr. Kalmbach also leads research examining the relationship between sleep and suicide, and has published on how insomnia therapeutics may play a role in mitigating suicide-risk. Presently, Dr. Kalmbach is conducting an NIMH-funded clinical trial evaluating cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based sleep programs for pregnant women. View a complete list of Dr. Kalmbach’s published work in My Bibliography or view his Henry Ford profile here.
Philip Cheng, PhD
Philip Cheng, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist who currently serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine for the Department of Sleep Medicine at Henry Ford Health, an Adjunct Research Associate Professor at the University of Michigan, and the Director of the Center for Behavioral Circadian Medicine. He is interested in sleep and circadian medicine because of its wide-reaching impacts on mental health, physical health, safety, and quality of life. Over his career, he has earned over a dozen awards for his excellence in research, student instruction, and actions towards equity, and is currently funded by multiple grants from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Dr. Cheng has cultivated a program of research focused on the clinical translation of circadian science into practical and widely accessible tools and interventions. His primary contributions to science include investigations into sleep quality impacting symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder, novel uses of digital behavioral treatment of insomnia, the importance of sleep for stress regulation, and addressing disparities in insomnia and other health conditions as a result of racial discrimination. View a complete list of Dr. Cheng’s published work in My Bibliography or view his Henry Ford profile here.
Philip Cheng, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist who currently serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine for the Department of Sleep Medicine at Henry Ford Health, an Adjunct Research Associate Professor at the University of Michigan, and the Director of the Center for Behavioral Circadian Medicine. He is interested in sleep and circadian medicine because of its wide-reaching impacts on mental health, physical health, safety, and quality of life. Over his career, he has earned over a dozen awards for his excellence in research, student instruction, and actions towards equity, and is currently funded by multiple grants from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Dr. Cheng has cultivated a program of research focused on the clinical translation of circadian science into practical and widely accessible tools and interventions. His primary contributions to science include investigations into sleep quality impacting symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder, novel uses of digital behavioral treatment of insomnia, the importance of sleep for stress regulation, and addressing disparities in insomnia and other health conditions as a result of racial discrimination. View a complete list of Dr. Cheng’s published work in My Bibliography or view his Henry Ford profile here.
Timothy A Roehrs, PhD
Dr. Roehrs is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Roehrs’ research has focused on drug abuse and the psychopharmacology of sleep and daytime alertness, and on daytime sleepiness and its causes and consequences. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and has authored more than 350 publications. He has served as a scientific grant reviewer for the NIH and as a scientific paper reviewer for numerous journals. He serves on the editorial boards of the scientific journals Psychopharmacology, and Sleep. Dr. Roehrs has served on a number of institutional committees for HFH including its Small Projects Funding Committee, Research Committee and Institutional Review Board and he is currently the Chair of the Institutional Review Board. He also has served as a member of a number of national advisory boards, including the WHO. He has also served as President of the Sleep Research Society.
Dr. Roehrs is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Roehrs’ research has focused on drug abuse and the psychopharmacology of sleep and daytime alertness, and on daytime sleepiness and its causes and consequences. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and has authored more than 350 publications. He has served as a scientific grant reviewer for the NIH and as a scientific paper reviewer for numerous journals. He serves on the editorial boards of the scientific journals Psychopharmacology, and Sleep. Dr. Roehrs has served on a number of institutional committees for HFH including its Small Projects Funding Committee, Research Committee and Institutional Review Board and he is currently the Chair of the Institutional Review Board. He also has served as a member of a number of national advisory boards, including the WHO. He has also served as President of the Sleep Research Society.
Anthony N. Reffi, PhD
Anthony N. Reffi, PhD, is a postdoctoral clinical psychologist at Henry Ford Health’s Sleep Disorders and Research Center. His research focuses on the interface between sleep and traumatic stress, and he is clinically trained in behavioral sleep medicine (including mindfulness-based interventions for insomnia) and the assessment and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He began his career working with World Trade Center responders at Stony Brook University before earning his doctorate from Northern Illinois University with a focus in trauma psychology. He has worked with many trauma-exposed populations, including U.S. Veterans exposed to combat, survivors of interpersonal violence (e.g., sexual assault, shootings), and public safety personnel (e.g., law enforcement, 9-1-1 telecommunicators). Through his clinical work delivering first-line treatments for PTSD, he became interested in the role of sleep in trauma recovery and is now investigating this relationship using a prospective observational study among Detroit residents admitted to Henry Ford Hospital’s ICU after traumatic injury.
Anthony N. Reffi, PhD, is a postdoctoral clinical psychologist at Henry Ford Health’s Sleep Disorders and Research Center. His research focuses on the interface between sleep and traumatic stress, and he is clinically trained in behavioral sleep medicine (including mindfulness-based interventions for insomnia) and the assessment and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He began his career working with World Trade Center responders at Stony Brook University before earning his doctorate from Northern Illinois University with a focus in trauma psychology. He has worked with many trauma-exposed populations, including U.S. Veterans exposed to combat, survivors of interpersonal violence (e.g., sexual assault, shootings), and public safety personnel (e.g., law enforcement, 9-1-1 telecommunicators). Through his clinical work delivering first-line treatments for PTSD, he became interested in the role of sleep in trauma recovery and is now investigating this relationship using a prospective observational study among Detroit residents admitted to Henry Ford Hospital’s ICU after traumatic injury.
Collaborating Co-Investigators
Elle Wernette, PhD
Elle joined Henry Ford Health in August 2024 as a Research Scientist and Instructor. She received her PhD in Psychology from Michigan State University, with a background in sleep and circadian research. More specifically, her previous research involved practical intervention strategies for sleep loss- including light- and the role of sleep and sleep physiology on cognitive performance. Today, she helps coordinate research on sleep in night shift workers and light-based interventions for circadian misalignment. In her free time, Elle enjoys travelling, hiking, and spending time with her daughter.
Elle joined Henry Ford Health in August 2024 as a Research Scientist and Instructor. She received her PhD in Psychology from Michigan State University, with a background in sleep and circadian research. More specifically, her previous research involved practical intervention strategies for sleep loss- including light- and the role of sleep and sleep physiology on cognitive performance. Today, she helps coordinate research on sleep in night shift workers and light-based interventions for circadian misalignment. In her free time, Elle enjoys travelling, hiking, and spending time with her daughter.
Gregory Mahr, MD
Gregory Mahr, MD is the Division Head of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry. He is on faculty at Wayne State University and Michigan State University. He has a long-standing interest in sleep and dreams. He and Chris Drake coauthored a book published in 2022 by Routledge titled The Wisdom of Dreams: Science, Synchronicity and the Language of the Soul. Dr. Mahr is involved in the Trauma Recovery program and runs a nightmare clinic in the sleep medicine program.
Gregory Mahr, MD is the Division Head of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry. He is on faculty at Wayne State University and Michigan State University. He has a long-standing interest in sleep and dreams. He and Chris Drake coauthored a book published in 2022 by Routledge titled The Wisdom of Dreams: Science, Synchronicity and the Language of the Soul. Dr. Mahr is involved in the Trauma Recovery program and runs a nightmare clinic in the sleep medicine program.
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Intern
Matthew Jennings, MA
Matthew B. Jennings, MA, is a clinical psychology doctoral intern with Henry Ford Health’s Department of Sleep Medicine. His research interests focus on improving access to behavioral sleep medicine, especially in historically marginalized communities, and he is trained in clinical health psychology techniques and interventions for sleep and other somatic conditions. As an 11-year U.S. Army combat veteran, Matthew also has clinical and research interests in veteran issues such as health disparities and access to earned benefits. Matthew earned his undergraduate psychology degree in his home state of Washington at Saint Martin’s University and Abbey (O.S.B.) and his master’s degree in psychology (clinical track) through Wayne State University’s Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. As a doctoral candidate, his dissertation involves building latent profiles of ‘access to community services’ for Michiganders experiencing homelessness for over 30 years. Matthew was recently matched with Henry Ford Health’s 2024 Psychology Internship program, where he will continue gaining clinical and research experience through evidence-based practices.
Matthew B. Jennings, MA, is a clinical psychology doctoral intern with Henry Ford Health’s Department of Sleep Medicine. His research interests focus on improving access to behavioral sleep medicine, especially in historically marginalized communities, and he is trained in clinical health psychology techniques and interventions for sleep and other somatic conditions. As an 11-year U.S. Army combat veteran, Matthew also has clinical and research interests in veteran issues such as health disparities and access to earned benefits. Matthew earned his undergraduate psychology degree in his home state of Washington at Saint Martin’s University and Abbey (O.S.B.) and his master’s degree in psychology (clinical track) through Wayne State University’s Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. As a doctoral candidate, his dissertation involves building latent profiles of ‘access to community services’ for Michiganders experiencing homelessness for over 30 years. Matthew was recently matched with Henry Ford Health’s 2024 Psychology Internship program, where he will continue gaining clinical and research experience through evidence-based practices.
Clinical Research Coordinators
Cynthia Fellman-Couture, PhD
Cynthia is a registered nurse who started with Henry Ford Health in November 2013 and has been delivering behavioral treatments for insomnia for many different research studies since then. Her specialties are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i), Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Insomnia (MBTI), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She is also a Research Coordinator and is occasionally involved with various drug trials. Her goal is to support her entire sleep research team and to help everyone she encounters through sleep research to find better sleep! She has her BSN (2011) from Wayne State University (second degree program) and a BS (1981 – Iowa State University), MS (1985 – University of Minnesota), and PhD (1989 – also U of Minnesota) in horticulture with specializations in tissue culture propagation and fruit crop development.
Cynthia is a registered nurse who started with Henry Ford Health in November 2013 and has been delivering behavioral treatments for insomnia for many different research studies since then. Her specialties are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i), Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Insomnia (MBTI), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She is also a Research Coordinator and is occasionally involved with various drug trials. Her goal is to support her entire sleep research team and to help everyone she encounters through sleep research to find better sleep! She has her BSN (2011) from Wayne State University (second degree program) and a BS (1981 – Iowa State University), MS (1985 – University of Minnesota), and PhD (1989 – also U of Minnesota) in horticulture with specializations in tissue culture propagation and fruit crop development.
Heba Afaneh, MS
Heba joined the Research Assistant team within the Henry Ford Sleep Center in October 2023, assisting with the coordination of several pharmaceutical trials. In 2020, she graduated from Michigan State University receiving undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Gender Studies. She then went on to complete her Masters in Experimental Psychology at Oakland University. Heba has also worked on an NIH-funded intervention targeting colorectal cancer screening behavior among African Americans. She looks forward to continuing to pursuing her interest in minority health behavior in sleep medicine.
Marleigh Treger, BS
Marleigh is Dr. Cheng’s clinical research coordinator that oversees his research in cognitive behavioral psychology for insomnia, shift work disorder etiology and treatment, and improving sleep health of marginalized groups. Marleigh graduated summa cum laude from Eastern Michigan University in 2019 with a BS in Neuroscience with a minor in Human Biology and plans to continue to contribute to the improvement of public health. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, arranging music, and playing with his cat.
Mohammad Sibai, MA
Mohammad Sibai is currently a clinical psychology doctoral student at the University of Detroit Mercy. He graduated from the American University of Beirut with a B.A. in psychology and then went on to receive his M.A. in clinical psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. He has previously worked as a research assistant at New York State Psychiatric Institute's Substance Use Division, helping carry out clinical trials studying substance use disorder treatments. His current areas of interest include the intersection of substance use and sleep.
Research PSG Technician
Cezar Capili, RPSGT
Cezar joined the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center as a Polysomnographic Technologist in February of 2024. He started his career in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has been a registered polysomnography technician since 2022. Since joining the HFH team, Cezar has coordinated the training of research staff on PSG implementation and has worked on multiple NIH and pharmaceutical sponsored trials for sleep-related illnesses. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family.
Project Leads
Aisha Tabor, BS
Aisha works with Mohammad Sibai, MA at the HFH Sleep Research Department in Detroit. She earned her BS in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Sciences, from the University of Michigan and is currently a masters student at A.T. Still University working towards a MS in Biomedical Sciences. Her expected graduation date is April 2024.
Mika Hirata, BS
Mika has been with Henry Ford since January 2023, working as a clinical Research Assistant. She is currently the lead RA of the INSPIRE study and is also leading the Big Health Implementation study. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2022 with a BS degree in Psychology. She enjoys drawing, reading, and taking walks in her free time.
Lily B. Jankowiak, BS
Lily joined the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center as a Research Assistant in April 2023 following graduation from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor with a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN) with a minor in Biochemistry. Previously working on clinical pharmaceutical trials for various sleep disorders, she now contributes to the development of the Henry Ford Health Trauma Recovery Center aimed to provide rehabilitative and counseling services to individuals who've suffered from acute traumas. Lily enjoys reading, rock climbing, and cooking in her free time.
Jonny Patrick Russell, BA
Jonny joined the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center as a Research Assistant in July 2023 after earning a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Business Economics from Brown University in 2023, where he also played on their Men's Ice Hockey Team. He is the current RA lead on SAIL, which focuses on the implementation of the Arcashift application for night shift workers. He also helps with SHIFT and REACT along with specializing in recruiting for LunAIRo. In his free time, Jonny enjoys playing golf and watching movies.
Atena Gutierrez Chavez, BS
Atena joined the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center as a Research Project Coordinator in June 2024 after graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology. In her role, she is involved in various pharmaceutical trials focused on improving treatments for sleep disorders and postpartum depression. In her free time, Atena enjoys dancing, traveling, and attending concerts.
Tiffany Xu, BS
Tiffany joined the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center as a Clinical Project Coordinator in May 2024, following her graduation from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN). She is involved in various clinical pharmaceutical trials aimed at reducing the impact of sleep disorders through medication-based therapies, as well as supporting a trial focused on the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD). In her free time, Tiffany enjoys traveling, painting, and trying new foods.
Cameron Mccray, BS
Cameron joined the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center as a Project Coordinator in June 2024. He earned his B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. As a member of the "Pharma team", Cameron contributes to various clinical pharmaceutical studies aimed at improving the lives of those with sleep disorders, as well as a study focused on treatment for Postpartum Depression. Notably, he is the lead project coordinator for the LunAIRo study and its subsequent extension, which evaluates the efficacy of a novel drug treatment for sleep apnea. Outside of work, he enjoys reading and spending time with his dogs.
Ishana Kapoor, BS
Ishana joined the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center as a Clinical Project Coordinator in June 2024 following graduation from Michigan State University with a dual B.S. in Genomics and Molecular Genetics and Psychology and a minor in Human Behavior and Social Services. She leads the COACH study, funded by NHLBI, that aims to enhance Digital CBT for Insomnia (dCBT-I) that fits patients' individual needs, increases treatment engagement, and closes that utilization gap. Additionally, she leads a study called STRIDE-P, funded by NIMH, which evaluates the real-world effectiveness and implementation of a mindfulness program (Perinatal Understanding of Mindful Awareness for Sleep- PUMAS) tailored to the pregnancy experience to improve maternal sleep, reduce stress, and foster the mother-child bond. This aligns with her interests in Mindfulness, and overall well-being.
Anna Pockrass, BS, BA
Anna joined the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center in August 2024 as a Project Coordinator after graduation from Indiana University with a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. She contributes to research that aims to identify mechanisms of Shift Work Disorder. After her tenure at Henry Ford Sleep Research Center, Anna hopes to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Anna enjoys baking, reading, and spending time with her cat in her free time.