Joanna MacLean

Joanna MacLean is an Associate Professor and Clinician-Scientist in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. She serves as a Paediatric Respirologist, Sleep Medicine Specialist, and Medical Director of the Pediatric Sleep Laboratory at Edmonton's Stollery Children’s Hospital, with clinical and research focus on pediatric breathing and sleep disorders.

Her educational background includes:

• Undergraduate and Medical Training: McMaster University
• Paediatric Residency & Respiratory Medicine Fellowship: Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto
• PhD: University of Sydney, Australia

Dr. MacLean's research centers on pediatric sleep pathology, with primary expertise in obstructive sleep apnea across diverse populations including premature infants, children with genetic syndromes (Prader-Willi, Down Syndrome), and craniofacial disorders. Her work integrates cardio-respiratory clinical research, outcomes analysis, and advanced respiratory signal processing to address enuresis, blood pressure dysregulation, and prematurity follow-up complications.

Recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate her leadership in non-invasive ventilation outcomes for complex pediatric conditions and population-level sleep apnea trends. Her work combines systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and administrative health data to establish evidence-based diagnostic guidelines, particularly through her leadership of the Canadian Thoracic Society/Canadian Sleep Society joint initiative.

Dr. MacLean actively mentors undergraduate researchers and contributes to provincial healthcare policy as a member of Alberta's Sleep Disorders Working Group, while directing clinical research operations at the Stollery Children’s Hospital Pediatric Sleep Laboratory.