Healthy sleep is essential for optimal health, psychological well-being, and reduction of disease risk, including depression, diabetes and heart disease.
Dr. Okun is a Professor in the BioFrontiers Center at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). She is the Director of the Sleep and BioBehavioral Research Lab. As a sleep scientist, Dr. Okun’s research focuses on how sleep and sleep disturbances may contribute to adverse health outcomes. Her work encompasses women’s sleep health across the lifespan, with an emphasis on pregnant and postpartum women. Moreover, she is particularly interested in how sleep modifies immune and endocrine processes and their role in health outcomes.
Current research studies include:
- Assessment of sleep and inflammation in the early gestational period, and how that impacts pregnancy outcomes
- Whether insomnia during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for postpartum depression
- The evaluation of a smart bassinet as an intervention tool for the prevention of postpartum mood disorders in pregnant military women
Other research interests include:
- The prevalence of insomnia and sleep disordered breathing in menopause
- Sleep disordered breathing in overweight/obese pregnant women and the biological impact
- Treatment of sleep problems in older adults with T2DM as a modifier of poor cognition
- Whether insomnia during pregnancy can influence the vaginal microbiome and preterm birth risk. Read more about her research or see her publications
- The effectiveness of a sound frequency on sleep
Dr. Okun has published over 70 articles and chapters relating to sleep and health and her work has been cited over 8,000 times. She has given dozens of invited lectures to students, patients, companies, healthcare providers, veterans and community members.
In recent years, she has taught the Intensive Sleep Retraining (aka Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia) workshop in her position as Director of Education and Training at The Insomnia Clinic. Through her efforts, she has helped over 300 people reform habits and improve their sleep quality.
Dr. Okun maintains membership or has been a member of several professional organizations, including the Sleep Research Society, the Society for Biobehavioral Science and Medicine, (previously known as the American Psychosomatic Society), the Psychoneuroimmunological Research Society, Psychoneuroendocrinology Society, NASPOG, Div 38 of the American Psychological Association, the American Heart Association, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. She is currently a committee member of the SRS Pipeline Development Committee.
Given her expertise, Dr. Okun has served as a peer reviewer for over 3 dozen journals, as well as National Institutes of Health (NIH), US ARMY/DoD (Department of Defense), and international grant applications. She was an IRB member for 4 years at UCCS, and directed the Community Health Education Series talks.
Dr. Okun is an active educator and mentor. She has mentored over 3 dozen students ranging from High School to Medical School.
Dr. Okun is also a current seminar speaker for the Institute for Brain Potential, the leading provider of CEU programs that focus on the brain and behavioral sciences. Their non-profit organization presents cost-effective, informative and practical seminars by outstanding speakers across the country. IBP is approved or accredited as a provider of continuing education by various national and state agencies. For more information on current topics and locations, contact IBP.
For more information, see her CV.
For media and information requests, meeting requests, and consultation, contact Dr. Okun.