Shelly Weiss

Dr. Weiss is a Paediatric Neurologist with expertise in epilepsy, and sleep neurology. Dr. Weiss has held national leadership positions in sleep medicine including Past President of the Canadian Sleep Society.  She has national education leadership including her position as the vice-chair of the Area of Focused Competence (AFC) in Sleep Disorder Medicine for the RCPSC.  Her research is focused on the medical and surgical treatment of drug refractory epilepsy in children and interventions to improve sleep in children who are typically developing and have neurodevelopmental disabilities. 

Research

Weiss is a clinical researcher. Her areas of interest are research in the pediatric epilepsy and paediatric sleep medicine. One area research interest is in the advancement of knowledge regarding the evaluation and treatment of epilepsy both regarding pharmacotherapy as well as surgery. Her other main research interest is in paediatric sleep neurology, including the development and evaluation of eHealth interventions for the treatment of paediatric insomnia.

Education and experience

• 1985: M.D., McMaster University, Hamilton ON
• 1986–1990: RCPSC (Paediatrics)
• 1990–1992: Fellow, Developmental Paediatrics, SickKids, Toronto, ON
• 1992–1995: Physician, Developmental Paediatrics, Holland Bloorview Rehabilitation Center (formerly Hugh MacMillan Rehabilitation Center), Toronto, ON
• 1995–1998: RCPSC (Paediatric Neurology)
• 1998–current: Physician, Paediatric Neurology, SickKids, Toronto ON

Awards and achievements

In the area of medical education, Dr. Weiss has been recognized for her leadership in continuing medical education with both a Dept. of Paediatrics and a Faculty of Medicine education award in this area.

• 2010–2019: Dr. Weiss was the Director, Faculty Development, Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Toronto.
• 2011–2014: Dr. Weiss was elected as the President of the Canadian Sleep Society.
• 2014: SickKids Department of Paediatrics Continuing Education Award. Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
• 2014–2015: Colin-Woolf Award for Long-term Contributions to Continuing Education, co-recipient, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Continuing Professional Development.
• 2017: Dr. Weiss currently (since 2017) is the Vice-Chair of the RCPSC Area of Focused Competence Diploma in Sleep Disorder Medicine
• 2019: Dr. Weiss has recently been elected as the North American representative of the Governing Council of the World Sleep Society.

1. Morrison-Levy N, Go C, Ochi A, Otsubo H, Drake J, Rutka J, Weiss SK. Children with autism spectrum disorders and drug-resistant epilepsy can benefit from epilepsy surgery. Epilepsy Behav. 2018 Aug;85:200-204. PA
2. Katz SL, Weiss SK, Fleetham JA. Pediatric sleep disorder medicine training in Canada: past, present and future. Sleep Med. 2018 Oct 26. pii: S1389-9457(18)30845-1. CoA
3. Dutil C, Walsh JJ, Featherstone RB, Gunnell KE, Tremblay MS, Gruber R, Weiss SK, Cote KA, Sampson M, Chaput J-P. Influence of sleep on developing brain functions and structures in children and adolescents: a systemic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2018 Dec;42:184-201.
4. Rigney G, Ali N, Corkum P, Brown C, Constantin E, Godbout R, Hanlon-Dearman A, Ipsiroglu O, Reid G, Shea S, Smith I, Van der Loos, M, Weiss SK. A systematic review to explore the feasibility of a sleep intervention for insomnia in children with NDD: A transdiagnostic approach. Sleep Medicine Reviews 2018 Oct;41:244-254.
5. Reynolds A, Connolly H, Katz T, Goldman S, Weiss SK, Halbower A, Shui A, Macklin E, Hyman S, Malow B.  Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial of Ferrous Sulfate to Treat Insomnia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.  Pediatric Neurology. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.07.015,