SAN DIEGO – Dr. Sonia Ancoli-Israel, a pioneering sleep researcher, will be honored as Scientist of the Year by the San Diego chapter of Achievement Rewards for College Scientists on May 17, recognizing a career dedicated to understanding the complexities of sleep and its impact on health.
The recognition comes as Ancoli-Israel, 74, embraces a vibrant retirement filled with activities ranging from morning walks with friends and mahjong games to international travel and spending time with her four grandchildren. Her daily life now stands in stark contrast to the decades she spent analyzing polysomnograms and presenting research on sleep disorders, yet she finds a fulfilling rhythm in this new chapter.
“I never really understood what retirement meant,” Ancoli-Israel admitted in a recent interview. “I thought I’d step away from work, but I’m busier now than I ever was.”
Ancoli-Israel’s path to retirement was unexpectedly altered in 2012, when her husband, Andy, a respected internal medicine physician, was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy, a rare and early-onset form of Alzheimer’s disease. The diagnosis carried a particular weight for Ancoli-Israel, who had devoted her career to studying sleep’s relationship to Alzheimer’s and the challenges faced by caregivers.
“I wanted to develop the most of the time we had left together,” she said quietly. “Andy was my heart and my soul — the most supportive husband I could have asked for. He not only encouraged me to believe in my own dreams, but he also believed in them himself. I’ve no regrets.”
Following her husband’s diagnosis, Ancoli-Israel shifted her focus to providing full-time care for Andy. They shared several years of travel before his condition required her undivided attention. He passed away in October 2020, shortly before his 69th birthday.
Throughout her distinguished career, Ancoli-Israel made significant contributions to the field of sleep medicine. Her research established the prevalence of sleep apnea and periodic limb movements in older adults. She was also a pioneer in applying light therapy to improve sleep in nursing home residents and conducted early studies on the connection between sleep, circadian rhythms, and cancer.
Ancoli-Israel’s expertise extends beyond clinical research. She served as immediate past-president of the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms and held leadership positions within the Sleep Research Society and the National Sleep Foundation. She has also shared her knowledge with the public through appearances on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and “Fresh Air with Terry Gross,” and authored the book, “All I Want Is a Good Night’s Sleep.”
Her passion for exploration is evident in her extensive travels, documented on her blog, “Journeys with Sonia.” She has visited over 100 countries, often seeking out unique experiences like observing blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands or Bornean sun bears in their natural habitat, and immersing herself in different cultures, such as attending the Tapati festival on Easter Island.
Born to Holocaust survivors outside Tel Aviv, Ancoli-Israel’s Jewish heritage remains a central part of her identity. In the mid-1990s, she participated in a transformative two-year leadership course on Judaism, studying the Bible, the New Testament, and the Koran. This exploration inspired a scholarly paper examining traditional Hebrew perspectives on sleep, revealing connections between ancient wisdom and modern research.
Ancoli-Israel continues to be actively involved in the San Diego Jewish community, having served as president of Congregation Beth El and on the boards of organizations including the Jewish Federation of San Diego and the San Diego Jewish Academy.
Now, she finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, such as reading for hours without guilt – her recent favorite is “The Correspondent” – and having the freedom to pursue activities she enjoys. “I get to do all the fun stuff and say no to the things I don’t want to do anymore. I have the best of all worlds,” she says.
Despite her retirement from full-time practice, Ancoli-Israel remains engaged with the academic community as professor emerita at UC San Diego. She continues to collaborate on research grants, publish papers, and deliver presentations, and until recently served on the executive board of the UCSD Center for Circadian Biology. She also remains involved with a leading international conference on circadian rhythms.
For seniors struggling with sleep, Ancoli-Israel offers practical advice: “Get bright light exposure during the morning — that’s why I walk every morning. Keep a regular sleep schedule. Proceed to bed when you’re tired. And don’t just lie in bed awake. If you can’t sleep and find yourself getting tense and anxious, get up and do something relaxing until you feel sleepy again.” She also stresses that sleep problems are often treatable and should not be accepted as an inevitable part of aging. “Get rid of your clock. Timepieces don’t belong in the bedroom,” she advises.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ancoli-Israel’s legacy will endure through her children and grandchildren, and through her leadership in establishing two Holocaust memorials in San Diego, ensuring the stories of her parents’ survival and the importance of remembrance are preserved.
