Dr. Ruchir Patel is a trailblazing sleep medicine expert, entrepreneur, and industry consultant with over 15 years of experience in the field. As the founder of multiple innovative healthcare ventures, including Knightly, Attara Labs, and the Insomnia and Sleep Institute of Arizona, Dr. Patel is redefining how sleep disorders are diagnosed and treated. With expertise spanning neuromodulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and obesity medicine, he is passionately committed to improving patient outcomes through evidence-based care and cutting-edge research.

In this episode of Sleep Is My Waking Passion, host Dr. Alison Kole dives deep with Dr. Patel into the intersection of weight loss drugs like tirzepatide (Monjaro/ZepBound) and their potential role in treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). From the science behind GLP-1 agonists to the challenges of navigating insurance hurdles, Dr. Patel shares his candid insights on prescribing practices, patient counseling, and the broader implications for sleep medicine. Together, they explore critical topics such as metabolic inflammation, collaborative care models between specialties, and why tirzepatide should be seen as a powerful tool—not a standalone solution—for OSA management.