Alon Avidan, MD, MPH
(he/him) - Neurology|
- Sleep Medicine
About
Alon. Y. Avidan, MD, MPH, FAAN, FAASM
Dr. Avidan is a Professor of Neurology at UCLA where he serves as Director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center. He completed his Neurology Residency at the Georgetown University Medical Center, and Fellowship in Sleep Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. He was recently awarded and served as Visiting Professor of Neurology Education in the Department of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, and was selected to receive the 2014 American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) Excellence in Education Award, for career contributions to education in sleep medicine.
He has published over 100 manuscripts on sleep disorders and had coauthored four books: “Handbook of Sleep Medicine,” “Geriatric Sleep Medicine,” “Review of Sleep Medicine” and Atlas of Clinical Sleep Medicine.” He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, the American Board of Sleep Medicine, and a Diplomate in the Specialty of Sleep Medicine by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Alon Y. Avidan MD, MPH
Director, UCLA Sleep Disorders Center
Professor, UCLA Department of Neurology
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Languages
Education
Medical Board Certifications
Fellowship
Residency
Internship
Degrees
Recognitions
- Super doctors, Southern California, 2024
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2023
- Super Doctors® Southern California 2022, 2023, 2024
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2021
- See More
Locations
Hospital Affiliations
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
Medical Services
Areas of Focus
Videos
Research
Interests
- Parasomnias
- REM sleep behavior disorder
Publications
Link to complete list of publications
Peer Reviewed
- Garrick T, Stephens R, Ishikawa T, Sierra A, Avidan A, Weiner H and Tache Y. “Medullary Sites for TRH Analogue Stimulation of Gastric Contractility in the Rat,” Am J Physiology 1989; 256:G1011-G1015.
- Venkatatesan N, Avidan A, and Davidson M. Antidiabetic Action of Vanadyl in Rats is Independent of in-vivo Insulin-Receptor Kinase Activity. Diabetes 1991;40(4):492-498.
- Avidan AY, Chervin RD, ESS.Com. Sleep Medicine, 2002; 3(5) 405-410.
- Chervin RD, Moyer CA, Palmisano J, Avidan AY, Robinson E, Garetz SL, Helman JI. Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Michigan: A Practice Pattern Survey; Sleep & Breathing 2003;7: 95-104.
- 5. Fleming WE, Avidan AY, Malow BA. Subclinical Rhythmic Electrographic Discharge of Adults (SREDA) in REM Sleep. Sleep Medicine 2004;5:77-81.
- Papp KK, Stoller EP, Sage P, Aikens J, Owens J, Avidan AY, Phillips B, Rosen R, Strohl KP. The effects of sleep loss and fatigue on resident--physicians: a multi-institutional, mixed-method study. Acad. Med. 2004;79(5):394-406.
- Avidan, AY, Fries, BE, James, ML, Szafara KL, Wright GT, Chervin, RD. Insomnia and Hypnotic Use as Predictors of Falls and Hip Fractures in Michigan Nursing Homes. JAGS. 2005;53:955-962.
- Avidan, AY. Abnormal eye movements during sleep. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2005; 1(4): 429-432.
- Kirsch DB, Avidan AY. Pregnancy associated with daytime sleepiness and nighttime restlessness. Sleep Med 2005;6:473-4.
- Avidan AY. The development of central sleep apnea with an oral appliance. Sleep Med 2006;7:85-6.
- 11. Teodorescu MC, Avidan AY, Teodorescu M, Davies, C. Sleep medicine content of major medical textbooks continues to be underrepresented. Sleep Med. Apr 2007;8(3):271-276.
- Avidan, AY. Clinical Neurology of Insomnia in Neurodegenerative and Other Disorders of Neurological Function. Rev Neurol Dis. 2007;4(1):21-34.
Peer Reviewed (Submitted):
- Avidan, AY. Sarkey, S. Duan, J. Baran, R. Insomnia Medication Use and the Probability of an Accidental Event in an Older Adult Population. Sleep Submitted, 2009.
- Bliwise, D, Avidan AY, Boeve BF, Greer SA, Mercaldo ND, Kukull,WA. “Sleep Disturbance in Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Multi-Center Analysis. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Submitted, 2009.
- Avidan, A. Palmer, L. Duan, J. Baran, R. Insomnia Medication Use and the Probability of an Accidental Event in a Commercial Population. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Submitted, 2009.
- Avidan A. Sleep Dove (Distant Online Virtual Education): The Making of a Sleep Medicine Online Teaching Module. In Preparation. 2010.
Non-Peer Reviewed:
- Avidan AY, Ancoli-Israel S. Sleep in the Elderly, AAN Syllabus, 2000.
- Avidan AY, Ancoli-Israel S. Sleep in the Older Person, AAN Syllabus, 2001.
- Avidan AY, Zee, P. Sleep in the Older Person, AAN Syllabus, 2002
- Avidan AY, WebWatch. Sleep Medicine 2000;1: 337-338
- Avidan AY, WebWatch. Sleep Medicine 2001; 2:83-84.
- Bibliography: Robinson, E, Chervin RD, Garetz SL, Avidan, AY. An Introduction to Snoring and Sleep Apnea for Dental Practitioners. Journal of the Michigan Dental Association, 2001:32-58.
- Avidan AY, Sleep disorders in older adults. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports 2002; 2(2):178-185.
- Avidan AY, Narcolepsy, American College of Chest Physicians Sleep Medicine Course Syllabus, 2002.
- Avidan AY, Parasomnias, American College of Chest Physicians Sleep Medicine Course Syllabus, 2002.
- Avidan AY, Sleep Disorders in the Older Patient- Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Elderly Patient- Associated Professional Sleep Societies Syllabus 2002.
- Sateia MJ, Avidan AY, Tools for Sleep Medicine Education: The MED Sleep Site, Sleep Medicine 2002;3(4): 379-381.
- Zwetchkenbaum S, Avidan AY, Websites on Oral Appliances for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Medicine, 2003; 4(1): 77-78
- Avidan AY, Zee, P. Sleep Disorders in the Older Patient, AAN Syllabus, 2003.
- Binns, L, Avidan AY, Websites on CPAP therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Medicine, 2003: 357-358.
- Avidan, AY. Insomnia in the Geriatric Patient, Clinical Cornerstone, 2003;5(3): 51-58.
- Avidan, AY. Narcolepsy, American College of Chest Physicians Sleep Medicine Course Syllabus, 2004.
- Avidan, AY. Parasomnias, American College of Chest Physicians Sleep Medicine Course Syllabus, 2004.
- Avidan, AY. Sleep and Epilepsy, American College of Chest Physicians Sleep Medicine Course Syllabus, 2004.
- Avidan, AY. Sleep and Movement Disorders, Book Review, JAMA, 2004;291;1130-1140.
- Avidan AY. Introduction to sleep and its disorders. Seminar in Neurology. 2004;24(3):207-208.
- Avidan, AY. Sleep Disorders in the Geriatric Population. Seminar in Neurology. 2005;25(1):52-63.
- Clemons E, Kakkar R, Kirsch D, Teodorescu M, Avidan AY, Cases in Sleep Medicine, Seminars in Neurology. 2005;25(1):130-146.
- Avidan, A. Introduction to Clinical corners in sleep medicine. Sleep Medicine. 2005;6:80
- Avidan, AY, Restless Legs Syndrome, The 29th Annual Midwinter Family Practice Update Course Syllabus, February 2005.
- Avidan, AY, Sleep and Aging, The 29th Annual Midwinter Family Practice Update Course Syllabus, February 2005.
- Avidan, AY, Practical Approaches for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, The 29th Annual Midwinter Family Practice Update Course Syllabus, February 2005.
- Harrington, J. Avidan, AY. Treatment of Sleep Disorders in the Elderly. Current Treatment Options in Neurology, 2005; 7(5):339-352.
- Avidan AY. Sleep Medicine Cases for the Neurologist, Motor Disorders of Sleep and Sleep Disordered Breathing, AAN Syllabus, 2006
- Avidan, AY. Narcolepsy: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and testing. American College of Chest Physicians Sleep Medicine Board Review, Course Syllabus, ACCP, Northbrook, IL, 2006.
- Avidan, AY. Narcolepsy& Idiopathic Hypersomnia: Diagnosis and Treatment. American College of Chest Physicians Sleep Medicine Board Review, Course Syllabus, ACCP, Northbrook, IL, 2006.
See a complete list of all publications, book chapters, etc.
Other information
- Read a patient's blog about Bringing Light to RBD.
- Getting a good night's sleep (podcast)
In the News
- Sleep expert offers restful suggestions
Dr. Alon Avidan, director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Clinic, was a featured expert in an Aug. 16 Men’s Journal article about ways to beat insomnia. - USA Today featuring sleep expert gets wide pickup
An Aug. 2 USA Today story on ways to combat jet lag featuring Dr. Alon Avidan was picked up by several news outlets the following week, including the Abilene Reporter News, TC Palm, Times Record News, Redding Record Searchlight and the Kitsap Sun. Avidan is a professor of neurology and the director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center. - Buzzfeed features sleep expert
Dr. Alon Avidan, director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center, was featured in a Buzzfeed mini-documentary on polyphasic sleep, the practice of sleeping multiple times in a 24-hour period. - A HealthDay story featuring sleep guru Dr. Alon Avidan about a study that found sleep deprived teens are at higher risk for accidents has since appeared in more than 50 other outlets, including U.S. News & World Report, United Press International, Health.com and CBS News. Avidan is a professor of neurology and the director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center.
- Dr. Alon Avidan was a featured expert April 7 in a HealthDay story about a study that found sleep deprived teens are at higher risk for accidents. Avidan is a professor of neurology and the director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center.
- Sleep tips appear in the Imperial Valley News
The Imperial Valley News March 23 featured Dr. Alon Avidan’s tips on ways to get a good night’s sleep. Avidan is a professor of neurology and the director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center. - Sleep tips featured on MedicalXpress
MedicalXpress featured March 21 Dr. Alon Avidan’s tips on ways to get a good night’s sleep. Avidan is a professor of neurology and the director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center. - Sleep expert appears as guest on San Francisco NPR station
Dr. Alon Avidan, professor of neurology and director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center, was a guest Feb. 22 on National Public Radio’s KQED FM (San Francisco) for a segment on not getting enough sleep and common sleep disorders. - Fusion Features UCLA Sleep Expert
Fusion June 9 featured the expertise of Dr. Alon Avidan, director of the UCLA Sleep Center, in a story on sleep paralysis. - Cosmopolitan Features Sleep Experts
Cosmopolitan featured UCLA sleep experts in a May 16 blog post about things your body does when it’s asleep. Dr. Christopher Colwell, a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the Semel Institute; and Dr. Alon Avidan, a professor of neurology and director of UCLA's Sleep Disorders Center, were quoted. - 7 Foolproof Strategies To Improve Your Sleep Quality Huffington Post (March 4, 2016)
- Insomnia May Be Culprit In Nursing Home Falls by Elderly (Senior Journal.com)
- Tips to help handle the daylight savings time change. (LA Times)
Insurance
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
- Centivo
- Cigna
- First Health
- Health Net of California
- Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
- L.A. Care
- Medicare Advantage
- MultiPlan
- UFCM Health System
- Prime Health Services
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- TRICARE
- UnitedHealthcare
The list of health care plans above may not be comprehensive and could change.
Please contact your benefits coordinator or health insurance company directly to verify coverage.
Visit our health insurance information page for more details.
Recognitions
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2023
- Super Doctors® Southern California 2022, 2023, 2024
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2021
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2018
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) 2014 Excellence in Education Award
- Diplomate, American Boards of Psychiatry and Neurology
- Diplomate, American Boards of Sleep Medicine
- Diplomate, Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties in the field of Sleep Medicine