Episode Details

Episode Summary

In this in-depth conversation, I welcome Dr. Ellen Stothard, PhD, a sleep researcher with expertise in integrative physiology, neuroscience, and data analytics. Ellen shares her unconventional journey from psychology student to sleep science researcher to clinical data specialist, offering a unique perspective on what "evidence-based" really means and how clinicians can become everyday researchers.

Key Topics Covered

Ellen's Journey

• From psychology and French double major to a PhD in sleep and circadian rhythms
• The famous "Camping Study" and how natural light synchronizes our bodies
• Why academia wasn't the right fit and finding purpose in clinical data
• Building Rebus Health: an integrative sleep medicine clinic

Understanding Evidence-Based Practice

• What "evidence-based" actually means (and what it doesn't)
• The difference between correlation and causation
• Why negative findings are crucial but rarely published
• Real-world evidence vs. randomized controlled trials

Research Methodology Demystified

• Small, controlled studies (N=30) vs. large observational studies (N=50,000)
• Understanding statistical significance and what research can (and can't) tell you
• The importance of understanding study assumptions and limitations
• Why averages hide responders and non-responders

Clinical Practice as Research

• How busy practitioners can gather research-quality data
• The power of before-and-after documentation
• Why consistency matters more than perfection
• Overcoming IRB fears: private IRBs and retrospective chart reviews

Early Intervention vs. Watchful Waiting

• The ethics of withholding treatment when harm is suspected
• Using "natural experiments" from patients who delayed treatment
• Why inaction carries responsibility too

Breaking Down Silos

• Why dentists, sleep physicians, and researchers need to collaborate
• The psychology of professional resistance to change
• Creating bridges between academia and private practice
• Speaking each other's "language" across disciplines

Memorable Quotes

-"The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

-"You can only call it evidence-based if you know what the science says AND what it doesn't say."

-"If you're not looking, you won't necessarily find it."

-"We can't just say 'okay, you feel better, bye.' We need to understand: you came in, you tested this way, we did something, it made you better. What happened?"

-"Your clinical data IS evidence. You have the ability to generate the evidence yourselves."

Practical Takeaways for Clinicians

• Start gathering before-and-after data consistently
• Use validated questionnaires when possible (or create standardized questions)
• Document outcomes at regular intervals
• Consider hiring data analysts or partnering with graduate students 
• Explore private IRBs for faster, easier research approval 
• Retrospective chart reviews can be powerful research tools 
• Looking at your outcomes makes you a better clinician

 LINKS:

• Rebis Health:
• Research email: research@rebishealth.org 
• Website: https://www.rebishealth.org/ 
• Social Links:

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