Pioneering a New Era in Sleep Care
Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, a Nigerian-born physician based in Philadelphia, has etched her name in history as the first Black woman to own a sleep clinic.
Her innovative venture, The Restful Sleep Place, offers holistic sleep care for children from infancy to 18 years old through a cutting-edge virtual practice and integrative approach.
“Sleep deprivation doesn’t just affect the individual; it impacts the entire family unit,” explains Dr. Afolabi-Brown. “When a child is sleep deprived, their physical, mental and emotional health suffers. Parents are often physically and mentally exhausted themselves.”
Addressing a Widespread Issue
Dr. Afolabi-Brown’s groundbreaking initiative aims to tackle a pressing issue: 60% of children in the United States suffer from sleep deprivation, often linked to behavioral difficulties, learning delays, and frequent illness.
As a board-certified pediatric pulmonologist and sleep medicine physician with over two decades of experience, she is on a mission to fix this problem, one family at a time.
A Holistic, Family-Centered Approach
What sets The Restful Sleep Place apart is its family-centered approach. Dr. Afolabi-Brown and her team address the root causes of sleep issues by examining medical, psychosocial, and behavioral components, creating customizable sleep treatments that honor each family’s values.
“That is why our approach is family-centered,” she says. “We address the root cause by looking at medical, psychosocial and behavioral components, from which we create customizable sleep treatments honoring the family’s values.”
Personalized, Patient-Centered Care
Through her clinic, Dr. Afolabi-Brown provides personalized, patient-centered, integrative care to families, a stark contrast to the rushed 20-30 minute appointments offered at traditional hospitals.
This innovative approach has made her a sought-after speaker and sleep expert on various platforms, including The Wall Street Journal, ABC News, and BabyCenter, the world’s largest digital parenting resource.
Families across the country have already experienced the transformative impact of Dr. Afolabi-Brown’s expertise. Jackie Williams, a mother of two from Los Angeles, struggled to get her children to sleep for months before seeking help. “Working with Dr. Afolabi-Brown was a game-changer for our entire family,” she said.
A Trailblazer’s Journey
Dr. Afolabi-Brown completed her Pediatric Pulmonology fellowship at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, followed by a Sleep Medicine fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
With expertise in pediatric sleep disorders, including chronic insomnia, behavioral sleep issues, sleep-disordered breathing, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, and sleep issues in children with underlying conditions such as mental health disorders, autism, and ADHD, she is on a mission to help parents and children prioritize sleep to achieve optimal health and live to their fullest potential.
