In Memoriam: AAST Founding President Peter A. McGregor, RPSGT

Peter A. McGregor, RPSGT, the founding president of the American Association of Sleep Technologists (AAST), died Jan. 23, 2010, at the age of 81.

He played an instrumental role in the growth and development of both the AAST and the profession of sleep technology. McGregor was the elected chairperson of the founding AAST Steering Committee in 1978 and became the first AAST president in 1981. He was one of seven sleep technologists to take the inaugural certification examination in polysomnographic technology in 1979 and was a leading proponent of professional education, training and certification for sleep technologists. In his honor the AAST established the annual Peter A. McGregor, RPSGT Service Award in 1995.

McGregor was the administrator of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at Montefiore Medical Center in N.Y., which in 1977 became the first sleep disorders center to earn accreditation from the AASM.