WESTCHESTER, Ill.Andrew L. Chesson Jr., MD, was recently named the recipient of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s (AASM) Nathaniel Kleitman Award for 2007.

“Dr. Chesson has earned many recognitions in his career as a sleep scientist, a testament to the impact he has had on the field of sleep medicine,” said Alejandro D. Chediak, MD, new AASM president. “Over the years, Dr. Chesson has served the AASM in a number of capacities, including president, a member of the board of directors and an active participant on several committees. I congratulate Dr. Chesson on this well-deserved honor, and am confident in his ability to continue to positively influence the direction of sleep research.”

Dr. Chesson will be presented with the award at SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

Andrew L. Chesson Jr., MD, is past president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2002-03). He is currently a member of the AASM standards of practice committee, associate dean for academic affairs, a professor of neurology and medical director of the sleep center at Louisiana State University’s Health Sciences Center. Dr. Chesson is one of the authors of the newly-released AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules, Terminology and Technical Specifications.

Dr. Chesson’s academic and research areas emphasize sleep education and practice guidelines, patient literacy in the field of neurology and sleep, quantification of oxygen saturation, and electromagnetic fields as they influence the brain.

He received a medical degree from the University of Texas in Galveston, where he completed an internship in medicine and a residency in neurology.

Established in 1981, the Nathaniel Kleitman Distinguished Service Award honors individuals dedicated to the sleep field who have made significant contributions in the areas of administration, public relations and government affairs.

The research of Nathaniel Kleitman, one of the world’s eminent sleep scientists, formed the foundation for many areas of current sleep medicine, including REM sleep, circadian rhythms and the effect of drugs on sleep. Through his inventiveness and achievement, Dr. Kleitman has left a vast impression on the sleep medicine field.

SLEEP 2007 is a four-day scientific meeting that will feature an international body of over 5,000 leading researchers and clinicians in the field of sleep medicine.

More than 1,000 research abstracts will be presented at SLEEP 2007, a joint venture of the AASM and the Sleep Research Society. SLEEP 2007 will bring to light new findings that enhance the understanding of the processes of sleep and aid the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy and sleep apnea.

AASM is a professional membership organization dedicated to the advancement of sleep medicine and sleep-related research.

CONTACT:
Jim Arcuri
(708)492-0930, ext. 9317
jarcuri@aasm.org

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