Michael J. Thorpy

Michael J. Thorpy, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Director of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at Montefiore Medical Center. He specializes in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders including narcolepsy, sleep apnea, insomnia, and parasomnias. His research focuses on sleep medications, hypersomnias, and sleep disorder management.

Dr. Thorpy earned his medical degree from the University of Otago (1973) and completed extensive postgraduate training in neurology and neuroendocrinology across institutions in New Zealand, India, the UK, and the US. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and 14 books, including seminal works like The Encyclopedia of Sleep and Sleep Disorders and SleepMultiMedia.

He has held leadership roles in major sleep medicine organizations: past Chairman of the Sleep Section of the American Academy of Neurology, President of the New York State Society of Sleep Medicine, and founder of the National Narcolepsy Registry. His awards include the Nathaniel Kleitman Award (1993) and the National Sleep Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award (2012).

Dr. Thorpy maintains active clinical, research, and educational roles, appearing frequently in media including New York Times, Washington Post, and television programs to discuss sleep health topics.