.svg?iar=0&hash=F6049510E33E4E6D8196C26CCC0A64A4){kind=logo}
/hfh-logo-main--white.svg?iar=0&hash=ED491CBFADFB7670FAE94559C98D7798){kind=logo}
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.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
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.
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 married with 3 step-children, 5 step-grandchildren, 2 dogs and a flock of chickens.
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 married with 3 step-children, 5 step-grandchildren, 2 dogs and a flock of chickens.
Chaewon Sagong, BS
Chaewon is a clinical research coordinator who started with Henry Ford Health in October 2018 and has worked on 20+ clinical trials. She has coordinated NIH funded projects and phase II, III, IV pharmaceutical trials serving as the primary contact between patients, clinical staff, CRO, sponsors, supply vendors, and regulatory boards. In the trials, she worked with various patient populations including insomnia, OSA, depression, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, shift work disorder etc. with clinical skills. Chaewon has a bachelor’s degree in psychology (focused on research) from University of Michigan with a deep interest in improving treatment services and especially clinical research. Outside of work, she can be easily found reading books about random stuff, hiking in nature, or in brunch restaurants.
Chaewon is a clinical research coordinator who started with Henry Ford Health in October 2018 and has worked on 20+ clinical trials. She has coordinated NIH funded projects and phase II, III, IV pharmaceutical trials serving as the primary contact between patients, clinical staff, CRO, sponsors, supply vendors, and regulatory boards. In the trials, she worked with various patient populations including insomnia, OSA, depression, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, shift work disorder etc. with clinical skills. Chaewon has a bachelor’s degree in psychology (focused on research) from University of Michigan with a deep interest in improving treatment services and especially clinical research. Outside of work, she can be easily found reading books about random stuff, hiking in nature, or in brunch restaurants.
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 Recruitment Specialist
Marleigh Treger, BS
Marleigh coordinates the hiring and training of new lab staff and volunteers, and uses his broad understanding of current studies to facilitate the handoff of duties between departing and entering Research Assistants. He works closely with Dr. Cheng on his projects and plans to grow into a Research Coordinator position. Marleigh graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2019 with a BS in Neuroscience with a minor in Human Biology and plans to continue to contribute to scientific pursuit with the HFH Sleep Research team. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, arranging music, and playing with his cat.
Research Assistants
Heba Afaneh, MS
Heba joined the Research Assistant team within the Henry Ford Sleep Center in October 2023, assisting with the LunAIRo clinical trial. 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 pursue her interests in Health Psychology and Behavior.
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.
Alec Bayoneto, BS
Alec started at Henry Ford as a Clinical Research Assistant in July 2022, launching the PIVOT study before taking over COACH, in addition to contributing to UNiTE and INSPIRE1. Alec graduated from University of Michigan in 2022 with a BS degree in Neuroscience, and plans to attend medical school after their time at Henry Ford. In their free time they enjoy painting, theatre, and swimming.
Justin Iqal, BS
Justin started at Henry Ford as a Clinical Research Assistant in May 2022, initially working on the STRIDE study and the narcolepsy Clinical Trials. Justin graduated from University of Michigan in 2022 with a BS degree in Movement Science, and plans to attend medical school after his time at Henry Ford. In his free time, he enjoys sports, video games, and gardening.
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.
Salma Habash, BA
Salma became a member of the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center in April 2023 after earning her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Political Science from the University of Michigan - Dearborn in 2022. Currently, she is the lead on REACT and actively contributes to the SHIFT study. In her free time, Salma enjoys reading, photography, and sneaker collecting.
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. She contributes to multiple clinical pharmaceutical trials that aim to alleviate the burden of various sleep disorders through medication-based treatment. Lily enjoys reading, rock climbing, and cooking in her free time.
Grace Paniccia, BA
Grace joined the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center as a Research Assistant in June 2023 after moving to metro-Detroit from California where she graduated the University of California, Davis receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Human Development.
Arjun Batra, BS
Arjun started at the sleep research lab in July 2023 after completing his bachelor's degree in Public Health Sciences at the University of Michigan. He is helping to run the lab's PIVOT study, aimed at preventing the onset of clinical insomnia through telehealth CBT-I sessions. He also assists with the LunAIRo project, a Stage 3 clinical trial aiming to treat obstructive sleep apnea. In his free time, he enjoys archery, going on evening walks, and tending to his garden before winter.
Jonny 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.
Dominick Caputo
Dominick joined the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center as a Research Assistant in August 2022 while pursuing a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. From this time, he has been the lead for a research study looking at the feasibility of Apple Watch as a replacement for Actiwatch for actigraphy monitoring. He has contributed to all aspects of research from study design and data collection to paper writing and pursing publication. He is also currently collecting pilot data for a follow up study which seeks innovative solutions for data collection in the home. In his free time he likes to read, hike, and train his pet rats!