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Rachel Salas

Rachel Salas, MD, MEd

NeurologySleep Medicine

Accepting New Patients

Highlights

Age Groups Seen

  • Infant 0-2
  • Child 3-12
  • Adolescent 13-17
  • Young Adult 18-25
  • Adult 26-64
  • Older Adult 65+

Languages

  • English

Gender

Female

Johns Hopkins Affiliations:

  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty

About Rachel Salas

Primary Academic Title

Professor of Neurology

Johns Hopkins Physician

Logo for Johns Hopkins Physician

Background

Rachel Salas, M.D., M.Ed., is a professor in the Department of Neurology at Johns Hopkins Medicine, with a joint appointment in the school of nursing. She is a sleep neurologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep and Wellness, where she works with patients experiencing issues with sleep, including obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, snoring, circadian rhythm disorders and restless legs syndrome (RLS). She has expertise in long-standing complex insomnia and RLS. As a certified feng shui master, Dr. Salas brings a unique lens to how physical spaces — clinical, academic and personal — affect sleep, cognition, productivity and overall well-being. 

Dr. Salas also serves as director of Academic Career Design Program Portfolios in the provost’s Leadership, Advancement, and Development (LAD) Academy. For over a decade, she has led the neurology clerkship, reflecting a deep commitment to shaping the next generation of health care professionals. Nationally, she is chair of the undergraduate education subcommittee for the American Academy of Neurology and an executive member of the Alliance for Clinical Education, with prior leadership in interprofessional education at Johns Hopkins. 

A nationally recognized sleep neurologist, educator and coach, Dr. Salas is known for integrating science, systems thinking and human-centered design to optimize performance, well-being and environments. Through her signature Academic Career Design coaching, she works with faculty and clinicians to align their strengths, values and professional trajectories, supporting both career advancement and sustainable success.

Recognized as a Top Doctor in Baltimore magazine for multiple years, Dr. Salas is a sought-after speaker who translates complex science into practical, actionable strategies. She is available for keynotes, workshops, media commentary and consulting on the following topics:

  • Sleep health and brain optimization across the lifespan
  • Insomnia, circadian rhythm regulation and behavioral sleep strategies
  • Sleep disorders
  • Designing sleep-supportive environments in homes, hospitals and workplaces
  • The intersection of neuroscience and feng shui for well-being, sleep and professional development
  • Academic Career Design: aligning purpose, productivity and professional growth
  • Burnout prevention and sustainable high performance in health care
  • Interprofessional education and leadership in academic medicine
  • Environmental influences on cognition, mood and health 

Centers and Institutes

Center for Sleep and Wellness

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

  • Restless Legs Syndrome Brain Stimulation Study Supports Motor Cortex ‘Excitability’ as A Cause | ScienceDaily (August 2018)
  • Considering Melatonin for Sleep? Here’s a Guide to Help | The New York Times (April 2020)  
  • How I Practice Now: Rachel Salas, MD, on Providing Sleep Medicine Care from Home | Neurology Consultant (April 2020)
  • Quoted in “What to do on the nights you are struggling with insomnia, according to  experts.” CNN Health
  • Invited Guest. American Academy of Sleep Medicine Podcast.  Talking Sleep | A Practical Approach to Treating RLS. (March 24, 2024)
  • Quoted in “Gen Z is less happy than the rest of us. Here is what would make a difference.” CNN Health (April 10, 2024)
  • Quoted in “How to Stop Procrastinating at Bedtime and Actually Go to Sleep, Time (March 18, 2024)
  • Quoted in “I’m Calling Total Hogwash on “Non Sleep Deep Rest” by Brennan Kilbane. ALLURE.  (August 8, 2024)

Research Interests

Professional Development, Strengths Coaching, Interprofessional Collaborative Practice, Medical Education, Sleep disorders

Selected Publications

  • 1. Gamaldo CE and Salas RE. Sleep medicine education: are medical schools and residency programs napping on the job? Nat Clin Pract Neurol. 2008 Jun;4(6):344-45.

    2. Salas RE, Gamaldo CE. Adverse effects of sleep deprivation in the ICU. Crit Care Clin. 2008 Jul;24(3):461-76, v-vi.

    3. Collop N, Salas R, Delayo M, Gamaldo C. Normal Sleep and Circadian Processes. In: Sleep and the ICU, Critical Care Clinics. Guest Editor: Collop N; Elsevier Inc, Philadelphia, PA, 2008, Vol. 24, Issue 3, Pages 449-460.

    4. Salas RE, Gamaldo CE, Allen RP, Earley CJ. Quiescegenic Nocturnal Dyskinesia: A restless legs syndrome (RLS) variant or a new syndrome? Sleep Med. 2008, Aug 13 [Epub ahead of print]

    5. Gamaldo, CE, Salas, RE, Collop NA. Sleep Medicine Pearls: Complex arrhythmia during a sleep study What to do? JCSM. 2008, in press.

    6. Salas,RE, Allen,RP, Earley,CJ, Gamaldo,CE. Drug hoarding: A Case of Atypical Dopamine Dysregulation Syndrome in a RLS patient. Movement Disorders, 2009 Jan 9.

    7. Salas,RE, Allen,RP, Earley,CJ, Gamaldo,CE. A Case of Compulsive Behaviors Observed in a RLS Patient Treated with a Dopamine Agonist. Sleep, accepted for publication 2009.

Honors

  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1/1/20
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association, 1/1/20
  • Burton A. Sandok Visiting Professor of Neurological Education, Mayo Clinic, 1/1/19
  • Josiah Macy Jr. Faculty Scholar, The Macy Faculty Scholars Program, 1/1/19
  • Health Systems Science Scholar, American Medical Association, 1/1/19
  • Visiting Professor, American Academy of Neurology, 1/1/19
  • Clerkship Director Teaching Award, American Academy of Neurology, 1/1/18
  • Teaching Award for Faculty Less than 10 Years, Johns Hopkins Institute for Excellence in Education, 1/1/18
  • Student Excellence Award for MEHP Fellow, Johns Hopkins University School of Education, 1/1/17
  • Neurology Clerkship Director Innovation Award, American Academy of Neurology, 1/1/15
  • Clerkship Director Innovation Award, American Academy of Neurology, 1/1/15
  • Young Investigator Award, International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG) and European RLS Study Group (EU-RLSSG) 2015 RLS/WED SCIENCE Summit, 1/1/15
  • CFAR Faculty Scholar, Johns Hopkins, 1/1/14
  • Mosaic Initiative Award, Johns Hopkins, 1/1/08
  • John R. Calverley Best Overall Neurology Resident Award, 1/1/06

Memberships

  • American Academy of Neurology, Member
  • American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Member
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science, Member
  • American Medical Association, Member
  • National Sleep Foundation, Member
  • Society of Neuroscience, Member
  • World Association of Sleep Medicine, Member

Professional Activities

  • American Academy of Neurology Consortium of Clerkship Directors, Past Chair, 1/1/20
  • American Academy of Neurology, Undergraduate Education Subcommittee, Vice Chair, 1/1/19
  • Gallup, Certified Strengths Coach, 1/1/18
  • High Value Practice Academic Alliance, Co-Director, Interprofessional Team Building, 1/1/18
  • Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep, Assistant Medical Director, 1/1/13
  • Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep, Director for Ambulatory Sleep Services, 1/1/13
  • Johns Hopkins Medical Student Neurology Clerkship, Director, 1/1/16
  • Johns Hopkins Medicine Interprofessional Education and Interprofessional Clinical Practice, Director, 1/1/17
  • Johns Hopkins Nursing, Associate Professor, 1/1/15
  • Johns Hopkins Osler Apprenticeship, Founder and Co-Director, 1/1/12
  • Johns Hopkins Osler Attending Preceptor Program in Neurology, Co-Director, 1/1/13
  • Johns Hopkins Predoctoral Program, Founder and Co-Director, 1/1/11
  • St. Mary's University, Adjunct Professor, 1/1/15

Locations

  1. Medical Arts Building - Columbia
    • 11085 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 210, Columbia, MD 21044
    • Get Directions

Expertise

Education

  • Graduate School: Johns Hopkins University, MEdHP, 2018
  • Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Sleep Medicine, 2008
  • Residency: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Neurology, 2006
  • Medical Education: University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, MD, 2002

Board Certifications

  • Sleep Medicine: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2009
  • Neurology: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2007

Insurance

Please contact the location directly to confirm your health plan is accepted.
Search plans
  • Aetna
  • CareFirst
  • Cigna
  • First Health
  • Geisinger Health Plan
  • HealthSmart/Accel
  • Johns Hopkins Health Plans
  • MultiPlan
  • Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
  • Point Comfort Underwriters
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)

Ratings & Reviews

4.8 out of 5

100 ratings, 37 reviews

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

Overall Rating by Patient
Provider Listened Carefully
Provider Explained Things Clearly
Provider Knew Medical History
Provider Showed Respect
Provider Spent Enough Time
Search reviews
    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/17/2026

    Dr Salas was great. She took the time to go over my results with me and explain the plan to treat my OSA. She allowed me to ask questions and take Part in the decision making which I appreciate.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/11/2026

    Dr. Salas is always on time, thorough and addresses my concerns completely and quickly

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/10/2026

    Excellent got what I needed No

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/24/2026

    This visit was the 1st visit that I had with Dr. Salas... And that was a video visit, so it is not that easy to tell very much about a doctor on just one visit. She seems like an excellent physician.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/4/2026

    Top notch Care always provided.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/4/2026

    Very respectful and informative I learned in 10 minutes with this provider more than all the times before

    3 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/3/2026

    She talked in long sentences, and it was hard to break in and ask questions

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/28/2026

    I respect her and like her.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/20/2026

    Initial visit with this provider. She was very nice, expressed concern for my condition and listened To what I had to say. She also ordered follow up testing.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/14/2026

    Very knowledgeable and pleasant

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/7/2026

    She is very knowledgeable and right to the point

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/23/2025

    Easy to understand. Very professional.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/17/2025

    Dr. Salas is an outstanding doctor. She is very compassionate, knowledgeable and smart doctor. She is great problem solver.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/9/2025

    Patient, pleasant bedside manner very good

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/18/2025

    This was my first visit with Dr. Salas, so I really didn't have a baseline for telling whether she was outstanding. I liked her, and felt at ease with her. But I think that it will take at least another one or two appointments before I can say with confidence how good her clinical skills really are.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/18/2025

    Dr. Salas is an excellent doctor. She is so smart, intelligent, passionated and great listener. I would recommend her for my family and friends.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/18/2025

    Dr. Salas is always friendly and respectful. She is not only professional, knowledgeable and thorough but has great patience with all my questions.

    4 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/12/2025

    She was very nice. I need to meet with her again to really form an opinion.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/12/2025

    I like her alot. It took many months to get my first appt tho. But she responds well to emails and fits me in for vdeo visits within the month

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 10/1/2025

    She is excellent

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 9/17/2025

    Dr. Salas was attentive and explained everything well, so it was easy to understand. She was informative and receptive.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 8/27/2025

    Very pleasant and informative

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 8/13/2025

    She is always ready and willing to hlelp, very knowledgeable and makes the patient very comfortable.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 8/12/2025

    Provided Avery good experience.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 8/5/2025

    She is extremely knowledgeable and projects a sense of confidence. I feel secure in her care.

    4 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/29/2025

    I was not told about how my viral visit was to take place which is why I gave many low scores. I was told the doctor would call me. Once I finally found out to go to my health chat I was too late for my appointment

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/22/2025

    Dr. Salas seems very knowledgeable, intelligent and kind, I already recommend her to my family.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/16/2025

    Dr. Salas was friendly, professional, knowledgeable, and efficient with time. It was a good visit.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/16/2025

    Great

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/8/2025

    Dr Salas is great. She always gets back to me right away when I send a message to her using mychart. She always is informed on the latest treatments for RLS

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 6/25/2025

    Respectful, knowledgeable,

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 6/25/2025

    Fortunately Dr Salas was available even though I messed up using central time not eastern time. She was flexible enough to check in almost 20 minutes late.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 6/11/2025

    Easy to talk to

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 5/14/2025

    Dr. Salas is willing to have a real conversation with me which many doctors will not. I come from a family of medical professionals and am very in tune with what my body is telling me, what it needs or doesn't react well to. I become very frustrated if a physician is unwilling to listen to what I have to say and talks 'down' to me as if I don't understand. She listens, is open minded, discusses alternative holistic approaches along with typical Western medicine and I appreciate that.

    4 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 4/30/2025

    Dr Salas is very knowledgeable about sleep disorders and spent time with me on the video giving instructions and recommendations.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 4/23/2025

    Dr Salas has been very helpful

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 4/16/2025

    Very pleasant and knowledgeable