The AASM Foundation is committed to expanding the field of sleep medicine with highly qualified researchers and clinicians, which also aligns with the strategic goal of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to expand the sleep team workforce of the future to improve access to high-quality sleep care.

Richard B. Berry, MD was one of the recipients of the Sleep Medicine Fellow Funding Grant which provides funds to start or maintain a sleep medicine fellowship position in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited program. The goal of this grant is to provide funds for a one-year sleep medicine fellowship position. This grant enhanced the training and education of the sleep medicine fellows at the University of Florida Sleep Medicine program.

Richard B. Berry, MD
Professor of Medicine, University of Florida (UF) Sleep Medicine

There continues to be a deficit in the funding of the University of Florida (UF) sleep medicine fellowship. The Gainesville VA funds one position and UF funds 0.5 positions. Every year there is a scramble to find soft money to cover the missing 0.5 position. Having each of our two sleep fellows spending 50% time at the UF sleep center and 50% at the VA is optimal for their education. At UF they see many pediatric patients, more women, and a wider variety of sleep disorders than at the VA. Both are valuable for their education. We have launched fundraising campaigns but have yet to secure adequate funding. We are competing with many other groups trying to raise money. With the AASM Foundation grant funding an additional 0.5 sleep medicine fellowship position, we were able to provide optimal funding for two positions as well as an excellent education experience for one year. The feedback from the fellows was that this schedule was ideal for their education, and that reduced time at the UF sleep center would have impaired their education. We hope this has proved the importance of adequate funding as we continue to seek support.