With less than one month remaining to pre-register for SLEEP 2016, anticipation is building for the 30th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS), which will be held June 11-15 in Denver.

As the premier clinical and scientific meeting for the sleep field, SLEEP 2016 offers an abundance of relevant content for sleep specialists. Each day of the meeting presents new opportunities to learn from other leaders in sleep medicine.

Because there are so many outstanding sessions available, it can be difficult to plan your meeting itinerary. To help you get started, I’ve selected five sessions that I think you should consider attending:


1. 4th Annual AASM PAC Gathering – Sunday, June 12 – 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
As the health care landscape continues to change, it is critical for sleep medicine professionals to remain engaged in advocating for our field. This annual gathering of the AASM Political Action Committee is a great way to learn more about the key issues impacting health care at a national level. Download the PAC gathering registration form.


2. A Crossroads for Sleep Medicine: Challenges, Choices, and Your Input – Monday, June 13 – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
AASM President-Elect Dr. Ronald Chervin and AASM Executive Director Jerome Barrett will co-chair this discussion group focusing on the future of sleep medicine. We look forward to an insightful discussion, and we hope you will come prepared to share your input.


3. Exploring the Economic Benefits of OSA Diagnosis and Treatment – Tuesday, June 14 – 9:05 a.m. to 10:05 a.m.
I am honored to give this invited lecture, which will include a summary of the enormous economic burden of untreated obstructive sleep apnea and an analysis of the vast fiscal benefits produced by the effective treatment and long-term management of OSA.


4. Sleep Telemedicine: Nuts, Bolts and Tips from the Field – Tuesday, June 14 – 10:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Dr. Jaspal Singh will chair this workshop, which will help equip you with the understanding needed to implement telemedicine as part of your sleep practice. In preparation for the workshop, be sure to read the AASM Position Paper for the Use of Telemedicine.


5. Consensus Statement: Recommended Sleep Duration for Healthy Pediatric Populations – Wednesday, June 15 – 2:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Dr. Shalini Paruthi will chair this discussion group, which will present to you the new consensus recommendations developed by the AASM for the amount of sleep needed to promote optimal health in children and adolescents. These recommendations will be published in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

I also encourage you to attend the AASM General Membership Meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, June 13, for a review of recent AASM activities and a preview of upcoming initiatives.

Be sure to pre-register for SLEEP 2016 by May 25 and book a hotel room before they’re all reserved. I hope you will join me in Denver for SLEEP 2016!

Sincerely,

Nathaniel F. Watson, MD, MSc
President