Rochelle M. Witt, MD, PhD

As a child neurologist, it is my joy to help my patients grow towards realizing their full potential, as their resilience is nothing short of inspirational. As a developmental neurobiologist, it is my privilege to consider fundamental questions regarding the nature of nervous system development that inevitably arise when caring for those afflicted with disruptions of this remarkably complex process. My clinical and research interests lie at the intersection of sleep and disorders of neurodevelopment. Through an intimate understanding of research and clinical care in these areas, I strive to bring a richer perspective to augment current scientific knowledge and benefit my patients and their families.

Sleep is the principal brain activity in young children and is a critical component in the proper development and functioning of the nervous system. It’s estimated that infants spend 13 months in sleep by the time they are two years old! A better understanding of how sleep can affect proper nervous system development will help illuminate the root causes of disordered development. Reciprocally, defects of neurodevelopment may manifest as disordered sleep, providing insights into foundational aspects of sleep. My goal is to explain such shared mechanisms of disease to develop treatments to improve the lives of my patients.

I believe using a collaborative team approach, whether in the lab shedding light on fundamental causes of human disease or in the clinic as part of a multidisciplinary care team, leads to the best treatment options for patients and maximizes our chances for success. Patients and their families are a critical part of this team, as understanding their values, goals, priorities and expectations assists us in making the best care decisions together. My parents are both educators, which has influenced my philosophy of care. It has helped me appreciate the importance of patient education as key not only to effective treatment but also to patient self-advocacy.