Helen Driver

Helen Driver is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Queen's University, specializing in Respirology and Sleep Medicine. She manages the 6-bed sleep disorders laboratory, EEG/EMG Departments, and the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Kingston General Hospital. Her research focuses on sleep physiology, particularly in women and individuals with COPD, emphasizing Sleep Disordered Breathing and sleep architecture. Dr. Driver earned her PhD in Physiology from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Zurich (Switzerland). She is a past-president of the Canadian Sleep Society (CSS) and holds certifications such as Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine (DABSM), Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT), and European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) Somnologist. Her work includes over 50 peer-reviewed publications and 14 book chapters, including an edited issue on Sleep in Women in Sleep Medicine Clinics.

• Education:
  • PhD in Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Zurich, Switzerland
• Certifications:
  • Diploma in Sleep Medicine (DABSM)
  • Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT)
  • Certification in Clinical Sleep Health (CCSH)
  • ESRS-certified Somnologist

Her research explores gender differences in sleep, impacts of COPD on nocturnal respiratory mechanics, and interventions to improve sleep quality in clinical populations. Notable studies include the effects of bronchodilators on COPD patients and cannabis use in epilepsy patients. Dr. Driver has contributed to policy guidelines, including the Canadian Sleep Society/Canadian Thoracic Society position paper on portable sleep monitoring.

Her awards include leadership roles in professional organizations and pioneering contributions to sleep medicine certification. She has advised on sleep-related clinical trials and authored influential reviews on topics such as sleep architecture in COPD and menstrual cycle effects on sleep.

Labs/Teams: Manager of Sleep Disorders Laboratory, EEG/EMG Departments, and Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Kingston General Hospital.