Dr. Rafael Pelayo

Biography

Rafael Pelayo is a Clinical Professor in the Sleep Medicine division of Stanford University. With an impressive career focusing on sleep disorders, he has treated patients across various age groups at the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic. Pelayo teaches the popular undergraduate course 'Dement’s Sleep Dreams' and has co-authored a textbook with Dr. William Dement. He has lectured both nationally and internationally on sleep medicine and has played a crucial role in initiatives to delay school start times for adolescents in California. His journey in sleep medicine began during his medical training at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, which ignited his passion for the field. Pelayo has also served in several prominent leadership roles within professional organizations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the National Sleep Foundation. He is actively involved in clinical trials aimed at treating Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) among teens and has garnered several accolades, including the Chairman’s Educational Excellence Award and the Chairman’s Unsung Hero Award from Stanford University. His educational background includes a fellowship, residency, and medical education at the esteemed Albert Einstein College of Medicine, with board certifications in Pediatrics and Sleep Medicine.

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