Dr. Irfan is an Assistant Professor and nationally reputed medical educator with specific focus on Sleep Medicine. She has been involved in teaching of medical trainees across spectrum in her various roles including Program Director of Sleep Medicine Fellowship at Hennepin Health Care, Chair of Choose Sleep subcommittee of American Academy of Sleep Medicine and member of National VA ECHO Sleep education planning committee. She has been involved in medical education at three academic institutions at Hennepin Health Care, University of Minnesota and Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System with curriculum design and implementation in Sleep Medicine. Her goal is to combine sleep medical knowledge with innovative clinical practices in fellowship training including Tele Sleep Education. She strives to combine clinical excellence with education aimed at mission of provision of comprehensive sleep care for the patients. She was also recognized with “Young Investigator Award Parasomnia Section” By AASM 2015, and her mentee was honored on collaborative endeavor with “Sleep & Stroke young investigator Award” and “Kennedy Research Symposium Award” in 2017. In recognition of her devout efforts towards education of trainees and patients alike, she was honored with “Exceptional affiliate teaching award” 2018 by university of Minnesota and has also been awarded for clinical excellence with honor of “Top Rising Star” consecutively from year 2017-2019.

As a part of educational enhancement, she has successfully employed various teaching practices such as fellows boot camp, interactive module for GME & interdepartmental teaching, Sleep workshops and Tele-Sleep Education for international medical students.

Mentees: John Sung Lee (sleep fellow), Aby Metzler (Junior faculty)

Selected Recent Publications:

• • • Ryba-White B, Gupta S, Khalil W, Irfan M. Integrating telemedicine into sleep medicine: a learner's perspective. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021 Jun 22. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9480. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34170237.

    • Irfan, M., Schenck, C.H. & Howell, M.J. Non-REM Disorders of Arousal and Related Parasomnias: an Updated Review. Neurotherapeutics (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-021-01011-y

    • Irfan, M., Khalil, W., & Iber, C. (2020). Practicing sleep medicine amidst a pandemic: A paradigm shift. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 16(8), 1405–1408. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.8590

    • Irfan, M., Schenck, C. H., & Garcia-Rill, E. (2019). Arousal in REM sleep behavior disorder and narcolepsy. In Arousal in Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817992-5.00010-6

    • Irfan, M., Cherukuri, C.M., Khawaja, I., & Schenck, C. (2018). Sleep Disturbances in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Psychiatric Annals, 48, 296-302.