A new program at the University of Manitoba will train additional sleep doctors in Winnipeg.
The university’s respirology department has been approved by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada to provide training and certification in sleep medicine for one fellow annually. The fellow will work at Misericordia Health Centre’s Sleep Disorder Centre.
Dr. Nancy Porhownik, co-section head of respirology at U of M, says this brings the number of sleep medicine physicians at Misericordia up to eight.
According to Porhownik, this move makes the province more competitive in recruiting academic sleep doctors, who are in high demand nationwide.
The addition of the fellow in the Sleep Disorder Centre at the University of Manitoba is expected to decrease wait times for sleep studies and follow-up care. The fellow will gain experience in dealing with various sleep-related disorders, such as insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome.
Dr. Sarah Jane Sass, the first fellow to be accepted into the program, started her training about three months ago.
“Being part of the field of sleep medicine is extremely rewarding because it’s rapidly evolving and offers plenty of learning and opportunities,” says Sass.
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara believes this announcement is a first for the province.
According to Asagwara, Manitoba is now one of only six universities in Canada offering a fellowship to support the education, evaluation, diagnosis, and management of sleep, breathing, and movement disorders.
“This fellowship is essential to our government’s objective of improving Manitobans' access to healthcare closer to home,” states Asagwara.
