Janna Raphelson, MD

Janna Raphelson, MD

  • Assistant Professor, Critical Care Medicine
 
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Janna Raphelson, MD

Biography

Dr. Janna Raphelson was awarded her medical degree from the esteemed McGill University in Montréal, Canada. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at UC San Diego. Then continued there for her fellowship in Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine. She held a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from 2024-2026 which supported her work on cardiovascular outcomes by cardiac MRI in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease under the mentorship of expert sleep scientist, Dr. Atul Malhotra. She was an ATS ASPIRE clinical and research fellow from 2022- 2026. While at UCSD she also completed additional mentorship in pulmonary hypertension and CTEPH with UCSD at their comprehensive CTEPH center and PAH specialty program. From here she continued to develop her expertise in advanced obstructive lung disease with a particular focus on patients with comorbid sleep and heart disease.

In 2026, Dr. Raphelson joined McGovern Medical School as faculty where she is active in medical student, resident, and fellow education. Clinically she leads development of COPD and advanced obstructive lung disease and environmental health programming for UT Physicians Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Clinic at the University of Texas Professional Building. She is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS).

Dr. Raphelson enjoys reading, writing creative and scientific works, and spending time in the company of her family, friends, and pets.

Education

Medical Degree
McGill University - Montréal, QC
Residency
UC San Diego - San Diego, CA
Fellowship
UC San Diego - San Diego, CA

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

  • COPD
  • Emphysema
  • Smoking related lung disease
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Sleep Disordered Breathing
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Lung Disease
  • Chronic Respiratory Failure
  • Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Lung Disease
  • Environmental Impact on Lung Disease
  • Air Pollution Impact on Lung Disease
  • Chronic Mechanical Ventilation

Publications

Visit the PubMed profile page

  • Obstructive sleep apnea severity and pathophysiological traits in overlap syndrome: Insights from the SNOOzzzE cohort. Raphelson J, Sanchez-Azofra A, Orr JE, Parra G, McGinnis L, Salinas A, Luu S, Sands SA, Azarbarzin A, Owens RL, Marin JM, Malhotra A, Schmickl CN. Physiol Rep. 2025 Jul;13(13):e70438. doi: 10.14814/phy2.70438. PMID: 40611572
  • Evaluation of a novel device to assess obstructive sleep apnea and body position. Raphelson JR, Ahmed IM, Ancoli-Israel S, Ojile J, Pearson S, Bennett N, Uhles ML, Rohrscheib C, Malhotra A. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023 Sep 1;19(9):1643-1649. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.10644. PMID: 37140998
  • The Sleep-Hormone Connection: SNOOzzzE Cohort Insights into Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Sleep Architecture in Older Women Gabriela Parra , Pamela DeYoung , Brynn Norby , Kathryn Macaulay , Lana McGinnis , Stephanie White , Steven Luu , Christopher Schmickl , Atul Malhotra , Janna Raphelson Sleep, Volume 48, Issue Supplement_1, May 2025, Page A400, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaf090.0921 (external link)
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea Endophenotypes. Raphelson JR, Fuentes AL, Holloway B, Malhotra A. Sleep Sci. 2024 Aug 9;18(1):e109-e113. doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1788287. eCollection 2025 Mar. PMID: 40292204
  • The Role of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Lung Diseases (Group 3 Pulmonary Hypertension): A Narrative Review. Tripipitsiriwat A, Malhotra A, Robertson H, Kim NH, Yang JZ, Raphelson J. J Clin Med. 2025 Aug 1;14(15):5442. doi: 10.3390/jcm14155442. PMID: 40807063
  • Forty Percent and Rising – Why Every Specialist Must Care about Obesity. Schmickl CN, Raphelson J, Malhotra A. NEJM Evid. 2025 Apr;4(4):EVIDe2500054. doi: 10.1056/EVIDe2500054. Epub 2025 Mar 25. PMID: 40130969
  • Positive Airway Pressure Therapy in Sleep-Disordered Breathing. Raphelson JR, Kreitinger KY, Malhotra A. Neurotherapeutics. 2021 Jan;18(1):75-80. doi: 10.1007/s13311-020-00971-x. Epub 2020 Nov 23. PMID: 33230691
  • The Overlap Syndrome Paradox: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Care Doesn’t Overlap. Raphelson JR, Owens RL. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2025 Aug;22(8):1138-1139. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202506-617ED. PMID: 40591914

Podcast Appearance

The Clinical Problem Solvers Podcast. Episode 67: Human Dx unknown with Reza & Pitt residents – altered mental status: Guest. Presented originally authored case for discussion. https://clinicalproblemsolving.com/2020/02/23/episode-67-human-dx-unknown-with-reza-pitt-residents-altered-mental-status/ (external link)