Dear Colleagues:

It was reenergizing to see so many new and familiar faces at the SLEEP meeting and at our American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation (AASM Foundation) events in Charlotte. Listening to some of the session topics and talking to many of you about the challenges facing our profession and the entire medical community, solidified the importance of the AASM Foundation allocating $3.5 million in funding this year to support our grant and training programs. This is a significant increase compared to several years ago when our goal was to give away $2 million a year.

During SLEEP, it was especially exciting to have our new 10-member Board of Directors installed. Four of these individuals are new independent board members who were elected to their roles to better position the Academy and the AASM Foundation for continued growth in the years ahead.

For many years, both the Academy and the AASM Foundation have worked closely together with the same individuals serving as leaders of both organizations. Although there is no longer complete overlap in leadership between the two organizations, it remains very important that the mission, vision, and strategic directions of the Academy and the AASM Foundation remain aligned.

As we begin a new era of governance for the AASM Foundation, I would like to take a moment and say thank you to the members of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for enabling the growth of the AASM Foundation, investing in the philanthropic aspirations of the sleep community and for providing new opportunities for volunteerism with our new governance structure.

The 2022-23 administrative year will be my third and final year as President of the AASM Foundation. It’s been a great privilege and honor to give back to the profession that has given me so much. I am excited to embrace our new governance as someone who will continue to serve in dual roles as a board member of both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the AASM Foundation. It is the best of both worlds to serve the needs of members while providing oversight of the funding that is investing in the future of sleep medicine and supporting the individuals and institutions who are training the next generation of clinicians and researchers.

If you have any questions about the AASM Foundation’s new board structure, please email foundation@aasm.org or visit our new webpage that features biographies of each member.

Sincerely,

Anita V. Shelgikar, MD, MHPE
AASM Foundation President

There are many ways to donate, and all members of the sleep community are encouraged to make an annual donation. Donations help us continue expanding our programs that provide critical funding to clinicians and scientists who need additional training and resources to continue advancing sleep and circadian science research and patient care.