Academic Programs of Distinction

AASM Comprehensive Academic Sleep Programs of Distinction  recognizes academic sleep programs that have demonstrated excellence  through compliance with rigorous standards in the areas of clinical service, educational mission and research accomplishments.  This new initiative is a step toward the broad goal of independent, interdisciplinary academic units within every medical school in the United States.  Programs recognized as an AASM Comprehensive Academic  Sleep Program of Distinction can compete, on an annual basis, for a one-year  grant from the American Sleep Medicine Foundation that supports a fellow for  training in sleep medicine research.    Further, all recognized programs will receive, on an annual basis, a grant that provides travel assistance to the SLEEP meeting for one fellow. This recognition initiative is completely separate from the AASM's clinical sleep center and sleep laboratory accreditation programs and will not impact these programs at all.

Congratulations to these programs for earning Academic Program of Distinction status. Brigham & Women's Hospital Division of Sleep Medicine University of Louisville Sleep Fellowship Program University of Michigan Center for Sleep Science Wayne State University Sleep Disorders Program  Children's Hospital Boston Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders University of Washington Medicine Sleep Program

AASM Comprehensive Academic Sleep Programs of Distinction is a valuable endorsement for all sleep programs. While all academic sleep programs will not initially qualify for recognition, it is the hope of the Board of Directors that those who do not will utilize this initiative to strive to achieve the necessary standards in the future. 
 
Download the program application 

Completed Applications should be returned to Jordana Money via mail, fax, or e-mail:

2510 North Frontage Road
Darien, IL 60561
Via Fax: (630) 737-9790
Via E-Mail: jmoney@aasmnet.org

Program Requirements 

The AASM has endorsed the concept of academic sleep centers of the future becoming independent interdisciplinary units outside of traditional divisions or departments. As a step towards this goal, the AASM intends to recognize those
academic sleep programs that have made major strides in this direction. This recognition will be entirely separate from AASM accreditation of clinical sleep centers and laboratories.

Faculty Requirements

• The faculty of the sleep program must include a minimum of three board certified sleep specialists. 
• These should include specialists in the areas of insomnia, central hypersomnias, sleep disordered breathing, parasomnias, movement disorders, circadian rhythm disorders and disorders of childhood. This requirement can be met by the faculty including one or more internists (including a pulmonologist), neurologists and psychiatrists, as well as one or more pediatricians (or pediatric neurologists) either as faculty members or associated with the program in a clearly defined manner. In the absence of specialists from one or more of these disciplines, the requirement can be met by faculty members demonstrating special expertise in the area through the publishing of research papers, review articles or book chapters on the topic, or having been invited to present on the subject at national meetings. 
• Additionally, one or more otolaryngologists, dentists and psychologists should either be faculty members or be associated with the program in a clearly defined manner. 

Clinical Requirements

• The sleep program must have a clinical component accredited as a sleep center by the AASM. 
• The sleep center must offer comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services for all categories of sleep disorders to patients of all ages, including ongoing care and chronic disease management. 

Educational Requirements

• The sleep program must have an active ACGME accredited fellowship in sleep medicine 
• The sleep program must participate in the education of medical students, residents and allied health professionals. 
• At least one of the sleep program faculty must either offer CME in the local region or regularly participate in national CME courses in sleep medicine. 

Research Requirements

• The sleep program must show evidence of an active interdisciplinary research program with multiple sleep program faculty participating and a proven record of research publication.
• The sleep program or a closely affiliated unit must have a history of extramural research funding (defined as other than funding for industry initiated protocols). 
• The sleep research program should ideally incorporate basic science or translational research as well as epidemiologic and clinical research. However, research in two of the following three areas will be acceptable: basic science or translational; epidemiologic; clinical (including diagnostic or therapeutic trials). (Industry initiated protocols will not qualify alone as evidence of clinical research). These programs must either fall directly under the sleep center or in a unit with a clearly defined close affiliation with the sleep center. 
• The sleep program or a closely affiliated unit must provide substantial training for one or more fellows in sleep research, exclusive of the one year clinical sleep fellowship. Opportunities for training in sleep research must be also available for residents and clinical fellows. Research training must culminate in the publishing of abstracts or articles or the presentation of research findings at appropriate venues. 

Administrative Requirements

• The sleep program must be a clearly defined administrative unit with either a single director or two co-directors. 
• The sleep program must show evidence of significant involvement in decisions regarding appointment of faculty, and administration of clinical, educational and research programs, including appointment of fellows. 

Process

• The recognition program will be administered by the Academic Affairs Committee of the AASM. 
• Sleep Programs wishing to be considered for AASM Recognition of Academic Sleep Programs of Distinction will complete a detailed questionnaire with supporting documentation. 
• A telephone interview will be held with the director(s) of the program, following which further information may be requested. 
• The AASM reserves the right to conduct a site visit if deemed necessary. 
• Recognition will be for a period of 5 years, after which an application for renewal will be required. 
• The AASM will have the right to withdraw this recognition should circumstances at the Sleep Programs change. 

Recognition

• Successful applicants will receive a Certificate of Recognition as an Academic Sleep Program of Distinction and the Dean of the Medical School will be informed about the award. 
• A list of Recognized Academic Sleep Programs of Distinction will be kept on the AASM public website and Programs will be recognized at the annual Sleep meeting. 
• Recognized Sleep Programs will be eligible to compete for a yearly one year ASMF grant to contribute to the sponsorship of a fellow for training in sleep research. 
• All recognized Programs will be awarded a yearly travel grant to permit one of their fellows to travel to the annual SLEEP meeting. 
• Recognized programs will be eligible to become leaders of sleep networks, should these be established in the future.