Sleep Medicine

Mission Statement

The mission of the Trinity Health Grand Rapids Sleep Medicine fellowship program is to train the next generation of adult and pediatric sleep medicine specialists in a supportive culture, patient-centered and multidisciplinary environment with a focus on providing exceptional care using state-of-the-art treatments and technology for the betterment of sleep and health.

Aims

• Aim 1 – To provide diverse didactic and practical training to ensure a culture of lifelong learning and clinical excellence
• Aim 2 – To use the most up to date diagnostic and treatment guidelines to ensure fellows can provide comprehensive, evidence-based exceptional care
• Aim 3 – To prepare fellows for clinical practice by tailoring their training to their desired practice style. Our regional comprehensive sleep and neuroscience center gives fellows a vast array of options and electives in multiple specialties and practice environments.
• Aim 4 – To promote humanism and professionalism in both patient care and clinical practice environments through Trinity Health's long history of providing a nurturing, respectful and supportive culture.

Program Highlights

• Our Comprehensive, AASM accredited sleep center is fully integrated, with our clinics, 12 bed sleep lab and PAP DME company all in one suite for optimal exposure for the fellows. We also have access to regional sleep centers in more rural areas along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan for fellows interested in this experience.
   
• We have multidisciplinary teaching faculty from multiple specialties, including Neurology, Pediatric Neurology, Pulmonology, Pediatric Pulmonology, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, ENT, Dental Sleep Medicine and Psychology.
   
• We stay on the forefront of technological advances and guidelines in sleep medicine. We were the first Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (Inspire) program in Grand Rapids (started in 2019) and have experience with Remedē Phrenic Nerve Stimulation device.
   
• On-site Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) by trained clinical psychologists (PhD and PsyD) provides optimal patient care to our Insomnia population and ideal exposure for fellows.
   
• We have extensive research support through our GME department with a dedicated statistician and research staff, in addition to phenomenal research clinicians and connections within our neurology department.
   
• Our program is part of the Hauenstein Neurosciences center, the first comprehensive Neuroscience Center in West Michigan, with access to the largest neurology department in West Michigan.
   
• Our institutional culture is singularly unique, having a warm, inviting environment with a focus on exceptional patient care, service to the community, and innovation through our philosophy of excellence.

Welcome from the Program Director and Program Overview

I am delighted to invite interested applicants to apply for our new sleep medicine fellowship at Trinity Health Grand Rapids! We are excited to be a part of an amazing group of educators in sleep medicine. We are more than prepared to give fellows an amazing experience and comprehensive, well-rounded education in sleep medicine, while being surrounded by our warm, inviting culture of excellence. Our programs at Trinity Health are resident/fellow focused, so you will have an important voice for collaboration and evolution of the program as you embark on your journey. Our fellows are integral to the culture of excellence and humanism that defines Trinity Health.

I have been a lifelong educator, mentoring hundreds of students and residents through my career. I was the former program director of our neurology residency for 7 years, but my ultimate goal has been to create a sleep medicine fellowship. With our resources in the neurology residency, fellows have access to a diverse, humanism and resiliency curriculum to help hone real-world skills, including advocacy, wellness, equity/diversity/inclusion, ethics, finance, leadership and more. We are truly excited to inspire residents and fellows to become strong, resilient, compassionate physicians. See the neurology curriculum page for more information.

I am also intimately involved in the MSU-CHM Medical School, teaching and mentoring students on a weekly basis in simulation and classroom settings and affording these opportunities to fellows if they desire.

I started my medical journey at University of Michigan, completing my undergraduate education in biology. I attended medical school at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, where I first fell in love with medical education, working as a tutor and mentor. I was chief resident during my neurology residency at Loyola University in Chicago and chief fellow in my sleep medicine fellowship at the University of Michigan. I stayed on the forefront of medical education with my experience as neurology clerkship director and then program director.

I became medical director of the sleep center in 2014 and have made it my goal to stay abreast of the most innovative technology and advances in sleep medicine. I have particular interest in “Neurosomnology” as we have many referrals from our neuroscience colleagues, including patients with migraines, MS, neuromuscular disorders, movement disorders, and many others. We have excellent relationships with our multidisciplinary colleagues from pulmonology, psychiatry, pediatric sleep medicine, ENT, and dental sleep medicine to ensure a well-rounded education for our sleep fellows.

Our faculty have a variety of backgrounds to teach and guide fellows through the field of sleep, one of the fastest advancing fields in medicine. Our sleep center provides high-quality, well-coordinated, and comprehensive health care. We have access to other training opportunities through a statewide collaboration in sleep health and education, and multiple opportunities to attend state and national conferences. My expectation is for every fellow to feel confident moving onto any practice environment they desire.

Personally, I am a father of 2 boys and my wife has been by my side since medical school. I am an animal lover with a dog and 3 cats and a loyal University of Michigan fan with season tickets to Michigan football. I am a gamer and foodie and love exploring new restaurants. You may see me on a hiking trail, playing tennis, attending comedy shows and concerts, or watching the sunset at a Lake Michigan beach. I also have a pickleball court at my house for fellows to enjoy anytime!

Grand Rapids is a wonderful place to live and stay, being close to a beautiful lakeshore and embracing the warm culture of the Midwest with big city attractions. You can learn more about living in Grand Rapids here.

Thank you for considering our program. I look forward to working with you as you embark on your journey in sleep medicine.

Warm Regards,

 

Christopher Morgan, MD 
Program Director Regional Medical Director of Sleep, Trinity Health Grand Rapids and Muskegon

Goals and Philosophies

The Trinity Health Grand Rapids Sleep Medicine Fellowship offers a unique training opportunity based on an institutional culture that is distinctly different. Our goal is to prepare our fellows to be exceptional and compassionate sleep physicians through clinical and didactic experiences led by our diverse team of multidisciplinary faculty.

Our training philosophy is an outgrowth of our overall culture of clinical excellence, firmly based on an unwavering commitment to our patients and our community. This is further supported by the transformative institutional mission of Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital and guided by the reverence, integrity and generous spirit of our institution.

Our program will provide exceptional sleep medicine training through a carefully designed curriculum that focuses on a progressive increase in fellow responsibility and autonomy over the course of the 1-year fellowship. We encourage robust dialogue with our fellows, fostering an environment that supports an ever-improving educational experience, patient safety, and well-being.