Meet Our Sleep Doctors And Specialists
The sleep physicians and behavioural sleep medicine specialists are all credentialed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the European Sleep Research Society, and the American Academy of Behavioral Sleep Medicine. The technical staff are fully accredited polysomnographic technologists and registered with the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT).
Sleep Doctors
DR. CHARLES SAMUELS, M.D., CCFP, DABSM
Medical Director
DR. CHARLES SAMUELS, M.D., CCFP, DABSM
Dr. Samuels is the Medical Director of the Centre for Sleep & Human Performance in Calgary, Alberta. Dr. Samuels is board certified in Sleep Medicine with the American Board of Sleep Medicine. He has a clinical background in Rural and Urban Family Medicine.Dr. Samuels is a clinical trial researcher with a special interest in the scientific study of the effect of drugs on psychological processes and behavioral activity and obesity. He has acted as a primary and co-investigator on over 20 clinical trials from Phase II to Phase IV. He has served as the Vice-Chair of the Research Ethics Review Committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta from 2000-2003. Dr. Samuels is currently the lead investigator for the Calgary Police Service Health and Human Performance Research Initiative, which is a long-term research project exploring the impact of rotating shift work on the health and performance of police officers. This project is part of a North American collaboration including Harvard University, New York State University Buffalo and Washington State University.
Dr. Samuels is also co-investigator in a unique study funded by “Own the Podium” which explores the relationship of sleep on recovery and performance in elite Canadian athletes. He has served as a sleep and performance consultant for the Calgary Flames and the OAR Northwest Africa to Americas Expedition.
AFFILIATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS:
- Diplomate, American Board of Sleep Medicine
- Medical Director, Centre for Sleep & Human Performance
- Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine
- Adjunct Professor, University of Calgary, Faculty of Kinesiology
- Co-Investigator and Clinical Director, RCMP: Fatigue Management Strategy, F Division
- Principal Investigator, Own the Podium Sleep and Recovery Research Initiative
DR. JOSEPH ASKIN, M.D., F.C.F.P., SOMNOLOGIST (ESRS)
DR. JOSEPH ASKIN, M.D., F.C.F.P., SOMNOLOGIST (ESRS)
DR. ROBERT COHEN, M.D., CCFP, SOMNOLOGIST (ESRS)
DR. ROBERT COHEN, M.D., CCFP, SOMNOLOGIST (ESRS)
Dr. Cohen received his MD from Dalhousie University in 1998 and completed his Family Medicine training at the University of Alberta. He holds the designation Somnologist – Expert in Sleep Medicine from the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS). He practiced a broad scope of community-based Family Medicine prior to joining the Centre for Sleep & Human Performance in 2006, where he provides comprehensive care of all sleep disorders.
Dr. Cohen has given invited presentations to public and professional audiences in the areas of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea and sleep in medical disorders. His current areas of interest are the primary care approach to sleep disorders and the management of shift work sleep disorder.
Dr. Cohen enjoys teaching Family Medicine Residents at the Centre with mentoring them with their Sleep Medicine training. He also enjoys working with shift workers and helping them best manage their sleep.
Behavioural Sleep Medicine Specialists
Athlete Services
DR. KATHERINE RASMUSSEN, ND**, B.ED, BA
Director, Behavioural Sleep Medicine Program
DR. KATHERINE RASMUSSEN, ND**, B.ED, BA
Dr. Rasmussen ND**, B.ED, BA is the Director of the Behavioural Sleep Medicine Program at the Centre for Sleep & Human Performance. She works to develop, facilitate, and manage an adult and adolescent program to support an interdisciplinary approach to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of sleep disorders. She also focuses on community education and wellness.
In addition to her post-graduate degree in Naturopathic Medicine from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Dr. Rasmussen holds bachelor’s degrees in education from Queen’s University, and in kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario.
Dr. Rasmussen possesses expertise in Behavioural Sleep Medicine including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorders, shift work, nightmares, chronotherapy, as well as mindfulness and meditation.
Dr. Rasmussen presents to audiences regularly on Behavioural Sleep Medicine. For more information or to request a speaking engagement, please contact: info@centreforsleep.com
Affiliations and Appointments
Member, College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta
Member, Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Member, Alberta Association of Naturopathic Doctors
DR. MARNIE COOKE, ND*
DR. MARNIE COOKE, ND*
Athlete Services
JONATHAN CHAREST, Ph.D.
Director, Athlete Sleep Services
JONATHAN CHAREST
Jonathan Charest is the Director of Athlete Sleep Services and a Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist at the Centre for Sleep & Human performance. He works to develop and optimize sleep for athletes (regional to international level). He focuses on how to optimize sleep, training and travel schedule for athletes, occasional athletes, and student-athletes.
In addition to his bachelor’s in psychology (Sherbrooke University), Jonathan is currently completing his Ph.D. in psychology (Laval University). He possesses expertise in behavioral sleep medicine (CBT-I), circadian rhythms disorders as well as the specific reality of the athletic population. Jonathan has been an invited public speaker for sleep at International Conferences.
As an ex-athlete, Jonathan believes in the importance of sleep, recovery and regeneration in the performance environment and alongside Dr. Samuels and the entire team at CSHP, brings a strong commitment to athletes, coaches, and teams to deliver education, screening tools, and research-based strategies to establish healthy sleep hygiene for athletes throughout their career, and for a lifetime.
Furthermore, Jonathan is a published scientific author in the field of Sleep Research
Publications:
- Charest, J., Marois, A & Bastien, C., (2019). Can a tDCS treatment enhance subjective and objective sleep among student-athletes? Journal of American College Health DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2019.1679152
- Charest, J., Bastien, C., Killgore, S., & Grandner, M., (2019). Verbal, Physical, and Sexual Assault Experiences among Student Athletes and Non-Athletes: Impact of Sleep, Mood, and Alcohol Use. Journal of American College Health. (Under review)
- Charest, J., Marois, A & Bastien, C., (2019). Impact of tDCS on sleep depth among student-athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology. (Under review)
- Bastien, C., Ellis, J., Athey, A., Chakravorty, S., Robbins, R., Knowlden, A., Charest., J. & Grandner, M. (2017). Driving after alcohol consumption is associated with insufficient sleep and insomnia among student athletes and non-athletes. Sleep Medicine, 40, e27.
- Cook, J. D., Charest, J., Walch, O., & Bender, A. M. (2022). Associations of circadian change, travel distance, and their interaction with basketball performance: a retrospective analysis of 2014–2018 National Basketball Association data. Chronobiology International, 1-12.
- Charest, J., Samuels, C. H., Bastien, C. H., Lawson, D., & Grandner, M. A. (2021). Impacts of travel distance and travel direction on back-to-back games in the National Basketball Association. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 17(11), 2269-2274.
- Charest, J., Grandner, M.A., Athey, A., McDuff, D., & Turner, R.W. (2021). Substance Use Among Collegiate Athletes Versus Non-athletes. Athletic Training & Sports Health Care, 13(6), 453-459.
- Charest, J., Bastien, C., Ellis, J., Killgore, S., & Grandner, M., (2021). Verbal, Physical, and Sexual Assault Experiences among Student Athletes and Non-Athletes: Impact of Sleep, Mood, and Alcohol Use. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 2883.
- Charest, J. & Grandner, M.A. (2020). Sleep and Athletic Performance, Impacts on Physical Performance, Mental Performance, Injury Risk and Recovery, and Mental Health. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 15(1), 41-57.
Affiliations:
Media and Advocacy – Canadian Sleep Society
Scientific Program Committee – Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine
Member of the European Sleep Research Society
Member of the Sleep Research Society
Diagnostic Sleep Lab Team
Admin Team
GARY CAMPOSANO, RPSGT
Director of Sleep Lab Services
GARY COMPOSANO, RPSGT
LAB TEAM
LAB TEAM
Jenevive Camposano, RPSGTPriscilla Williamson, RPSGT
Our highly trained and fully registered sleep technologists (RPSGT*) manage your overnight observation to ensure you have a comfortable yet informative night in our state-of-the-art lab. A private room with comfortable beds provides a home-like environment to optimize your sleep behaviours and trends. The facility also offers patient access to a TV lounge and bathrooms and showers.
*The Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) is an internationally recognized credential representing the highest certification in the field for the health care professionals who clinically assess patients with sleep disorders.
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Appreciation anecdote for our sleep team:
“I have been working in the sleep medicine since the mid 1990’s and I have worked closely with some of the best RPSGTs in North America. I can confidently say that Jen, Priscilla and Gary as well as our past team of RPSGTs rank amongst the best of the best, the are highly skilled, keen to learn, professional and universally well respected by the team and the patients. I feel honored and lucky to have this technical team working with us here at the CSHP. Thank you very much for your commitment and professionalism!” ~ Dr. S
