President's Blog - JuLY 2018

Dear SBSM Members,

I am honored to be the president of the SBSM during this exciting year that began with the recent SBSM conference in Baltimore.  Over 110 attendees had an opportunity to hear about new research and meet some of our outstanding colleagues.  Awards were presented to individuals representing a wide array of achievements and service to the society.  The Peter Hauri Distinguished Career Achievement Award was given to Michael Perlis for his long and varied research career and his dedication to promoting BSM.  Sheila Garland was the recipient of the Spielman Early Distinguished Career Award.  The Award for Student Dissertation and Thesis went to Spencer Dawson.  Jason Ong received the Presidential Service Award and recognition was given to Michael Schmitz, Richard Blackburn, and Kelly Baron for their service on the board.  Certificates of appreciation were given to the outgoing committee chairs: Suzanne Bertisch, Kristi Puiksma, Stacey Simon and Donald Townsend.  Overall, the conference and reception were a great success and received rave reviews for the science, camaraderie and outstanding food and drinks!

The next opportunity for networking and education will be at the SBSM Fall Conference in Birmingham, AL on September 15 and 16.  This conference provides CEs and is an excellent review for those preparing for the exam. 

Registration for the first BSM exam was very strong.  This new credential is a very important accomplishment for our society and ongoing support will assure its continued success.

As the SBSM moves forward, it will be important to have a strong infrastructure to support the many aspects of our society.  To that end, my goals for the coming year are to:

  • Strengthen and expand the infrastructure of our society.  Committees will be asked to identify, develop and implement a new initiative that will assist them with their primary mandate and support our strategic goals. 
  • Work with the new Board of Behavioral Sleep Medicine to assure its financial viability
  • Promote science through our new Science Advisory Committee
  • Develop a strong identity
  • Explore and develop mutually beneficial relationships with other organizations

To meet these objectives, I welcome your input and support during this exciting time.

With warm regards,
Donna Arand PhD
SBSM President