| July 7, 2004
MGHS neurologist
earns Sleep Lab/Sleep Medicine Certification
Neurologist
Dr. Nihal Herath of Neurology
Associates of Marquette, and on
staff at Marquette General Health System,
is now board certified in sleep medicine by the American Board
of Sleep Medicine (ABSM).
Dr. Nihal Herath
Dr. Herath is the first physician on staff at MGHS to become
a diplomate of the ABSM, an independent organization
developed for
the purpose of establishing and maintaining standards of individual
proficiency in clinical polysomnography, or the scientific
evaluation of sleep. Dr. Herath is also board certified
in neurology.
Sleep studies in the Sleep Lab at MGHS are used to diagnose
problems of excessive fatigue, sleepiness, snoring, or restless
sleep.
These studies are conducted with the aid of a polysomnograph,
a machine
that converts electrical impulses in the body into a graphical
representation, which can help determine what happens as people
sleep. While they sleep, patients are monitored for brain wave
patterns, eye movements, muscle tension, airflow and respiratory
effort, oxygen levels and heartbeat.
Dr. Herath interprets these graphical representations to determine
what, if any, sleeping disorders may exist in patients. Then
he decides how to treat any existing problems.
Dr. Herath’s extensive experience in treating sleep disorders,
which has led to him becoming a diplomate of the ABSM, stems from
several fellowships, residencies and internships.
He completed fellowships in clinical neurophysiology/EEG, epilepsy
at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., and neurological/neurosurgical & spinal
injury rehabilitation at the University of Wales Hospital & Welsh
National Center for Spinal Injury & Neuro Rehabilitation from
Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
Dr. Herath also did residencies in neurology at the University
of Wisconsin in Madison Wis., psychiatry at the University
of Wales in Cardiff, Wales, U.K.; internal medicine and geriatrics
at the
Royal College of Physicians in the U.K.; and neurology at the
University of Colombo in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Dr. Herath earned his medical degree from the University of
Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Marquette respiratory medicine physicians Drs. Arthur Saari,
Steven Danek and Jeon Lee also work closely with the Sleep
Lab.
For more information on sleep disorders, sleep hygiene and
coping with shift work, please contact the MGHS Sleep Lab at
1-800-562-9753,
ext. 3565; or 906-225-3565.
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