MIAMI, January 29, 2026 — A Haitian-born researcher at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has been recognized among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists, a testament to his groundbreaking work in sleep science and dedication to health equity. It’s a distinction that speaks volumes about the impact one researcher can have, and it begs the question: what happens when we finally prioritize sleep as a cornerstone of public health?
Sleep Science Pioneer Honored for Global Influence
The University of Miami professor’s research spans psychiatry, neurology, and public health, with a focus on underserved communities.
Girardin Jean-Louis, a professor of psychiatry and neurology at the Miller School of Medicine, joins an elite group of scholars whose published work has been widely cited by peers globally. The university announced the recognition in a LinkedIn post. He’s produced over 400 published works that have resonated with researchers across disciplines, according to data from the Top Researchers List.
Jean-Louis directs both the Center on Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences and the Sleep Research Society’s Program to Increase Diversity in Behavioral Medicine & Sleep Disorders Research (PRIDE: https://sleepresearchsociety.org/program-to-increase-diversity-in-behavioral-medicine-sleep-disorders-research-pride/). His research centers on the critical link between sleep deficiency and cardiovascular and brain health, particularly within communities facing systemic barriers to quality care.
From Haiti to the Forefront of Sleep Research
Jean-Louis’s journey began in Haiti, where he was born and raised. He immigrated to New York City as a teenager, initially pursuing engineering before discovering his passion for sleep science. He earned his doctoral degree in psychology, sleep medicine, and neurocognition from the City University of New York in 1996, followed by postdoctoral training in sleep medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
His work has been instrumental in refining how sleep is measured outside of traditional clinical settings. He contributed early algorithms that now power many of the wearable sleep-tracking technologies we rely on today. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, his research has resulted in more than 400 publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters, including publications in The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Neuroscience Methods, and SLEEP.
What defines a highly cited scientist? The annual ranking, compiled by a team led by Stanford University scholar John P.A. Ioannidis, uses a composite of metrics—total citations, h-index, and sustained research impact—to identify researchers whose work significantly shapes their fields.
Jean-Louis’s commitment extends beyond research. He has consistently championed diversity and inclusion in the field, earning recognition as a Pioneer in Minority Health and Health Disparities in 2020 and being named one of the most inspiring Black scientists in America that same year. He received the Sleep Research Society’s Mary A. Carskadon Outstanding Educator Award in 2021 and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership Award in 2022. In 2023, he was elected to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida.
He has also lent his expertise to national advisory boards, including the NIH Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board and the National Advisory Council for the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, helping to guide federal research priorities.
Is getting enough sleep really that important for overall health? Yes. Research consistently demonstrates that adequate sleep is crucial for cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and overall well-being, particularly for communities facing systemic health challenges.
