Dr. John Stakes, of MGH Neurology, was the founding director of the MGH Sleep lab, which opened in 1982.  The lab was based in the Bigelow building on the main MGH campus.  In the early years, only one technician staffed the lab on a part time basis.  Over the next 15-20 years, the number of patients tested in the lab gradually increased, utilizing 1-4 beds per night.  Over the course of this 2-decade period of growth, Dr. Stakes welcomed and trained 14 physicians in sleep medicine, who are listed below.  Demand increased further over time, leading to the transition of the sleep lab from the MGH campus to the nearby Wyndham Hotel, which opened in 2007 with 8 beds.  That year, Dr. Jeffrey Ellenbogen became director of the Sleep Division.  Under Jeff’s direction, the lab’s database grew rapidly, to capture subjective and objective data that would help optimize clinical care and direct our group’s clinically oriented research and initiatives.  Dr. Matt Bianchi became director of the Division in 2013 after Dr. Ellenbogen accepted a position in Neurology at Johns Hopkins.  That year, the Holiday Inn transitioned to the Wyndam Hotel, where the 8-bed Sleep Lab facility remains.  The MGH Sleep Division remains active in clinical care and research endeavors.  Since 2007, faculty members of the sleep Division have published over 50 scholarly works, spanning research articles, reviews, book chapters, and books.


Prior trainees under Dr Stakes:

• Dr. Aurelio Alvarado (Neurologist; Mexico) 
  
• Dr. Mel Burton (Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine and Pulmonary; Hawaii) 
  
• Dr. Paul Clouston (Neurologist; Australia)
  
• Dr. Wesley Chow (Neurologist; China) 
  
• Dr. Douglas Johnson (Internal Medicine, Pulmonary; Director of Spaulding Sleep 1999- 2008)
  
• Dr. Phil King (Neurologist; Australia)
  
• Dr. Julio Martinez (Neurologist; Venezuela)
  
• Dr. Joel Oster (Neurologist; Lahey Clinic) 
  
• Dr. Juan Santamarie Cano (Neurologist; Spain)
  
• Dr. Kenneth Sassower (Pediatric Neurologist; MGH sleep lab staff 1994-present)
  
• Dr. Peter Siao (Neurologist; Boston)
  
• Dr. Les Szekely (Internal Medicine, Pulmonary; Doylestown, PA)
  
• Dr. John Winkleman (Psychiatry; Medical Director Sleep Health Center; joined MGH in 2013)
  
• Dr. Joel Wolinsky (Neurologist)
  
• Dr. Gonzalo Zuniga (Neurologist; Columbia)  
  

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