The March 11 edition of CBS Sunday Morning included an extensive segment on sleep, to coincide with the "spring forward" to daylight saving in most states. Dr. Nate Watson, a member of the AASM Board of Directors, served as the primary expert on sleep in the news feature. The report briefly touched on a variety of topics related to sleep and sleep deprivation, including the role of sleep in athletic performance and academic success.

Make plans to attend the postgraduate courses on Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10 during SLEEP 2012 held at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts. 12 full-day and half-day postgraduate courses will be presented prior to the general session. These courses provide attendees with comprehensive coverage of important topics in sleep medicine and sleep research. Several new courses are being offered this year.

The discounted rate for the Intermediate Sleep Center Management Series held April 21–22, 2012 at the AASM national office in Darien, IL (a suburb of Chicago) is next Friday, March 23, 2012. This series will provide sleep center staff with important updates and key take-aways for many of the complex issues that center managers and staff involved in center administration face.

The American Board of Sleep Medicine has posted revised eligibility requirements, an application, and dates for the 2012 Certified Behavioral Sleep Medicine Examination. The revised eligibility requirements address the broadening of eligible candidates to include PhD-level nurses, social workers and other licensed and approved health care providers; the omission (for 2012) of requirement for 8 hours of pediatric intervention continuing education credits; and delineation of the examination content areas. Also online is the application for the 2012 examination, which is due by May 1, 2012.

In an effort to provide more clinically-relevant sessions at the SLEEP 2012 annual meeting, the APSS Program Committee has developed two new session formats for attendees looking for the latest information in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. During Bench to Bedside Sessions, presenters will highlight the latest advances in translational science and the clinical applications. Brown Bag Report: Challenging Cases is a Tuesday lunchtime session in which an expert panel will discuss their approach to diagnosis and treatment for three to four challenging cases.

The AASM Job Board currently features dozens of position openings for sleep physicians, technologists, sleep center managers and more. AASM Members and non-members can browse online listings and apply for jobs for free. Posting a job opening on the AASM Job Board is quick and easy for employers; AASM members receive a discount on each classified ad.

Present your latest scientific findings at SLEEP 2012. The Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS) is accepting late-breaking abstract submissions for SLEEP 2012. Abstracts may be submitted until Wednesday, March 21. Late-breaking abstracts will be presented during a scientific session on Wednesday, June 13, from 12:15pm – 1:30pm. Up to five abstracts will be accepted for oral presentations in which authors will present their high-quality emerging data found between Dec. 2011 and March 2012.

Congratulations to the AASM’s top Member-Get-A-Member Campaign recruiter for the month of February: Chih-Huan Wang, RhD. Member recruiters help advance sleep medicine by encouraging their professional colleagues to join the AASM. For each new member recruited, these individuals receive a $15 Recognition of Excellence Money (REM) Voucher that can be used toward AASM products and course registrations. Each member referral also enters recruiters into a Grand Prize Drawing to win a complimentary 2013 AASM course registration including travel expenses. Learn how to participate in the AASM Member-Get-A-Member Campaign.

Last week, all eligible AASM members received an email from AASM President Nancy Collop, MD containing a link to participate in the 2012 AASM leadership elections. Members have until Friday, March 16 at 5:00 p.m. to submit their ballot. This year, the ballot will include the AASM President-elect and three directors -at large on the AASM Board of Directors. In addition, members will elect an AASM Nominating Committee representative. For information on candidates, view the candidate biographies on the AASM Election 2012 page.

A complete Preliminary Program for SLEEP 2012, the 26th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC (APSS) is now available on the meeting’s website. This program includes comprehensive information about scheduled sessions and courses, continuing education, registration, hotel and travel. Members in the United States can expect to receive a printed copy of the program in the mail shortly, and members outside of the United States may access the program online. Additionally, ticketed sessions and courses are beginning to sell out…members are encouraged to register early to ensure that they are able to attend all of their desired sessions. A list of sold out sessions can be found on the SLEEP 2012 website; the APSS does not maintain waiting lists for sold out sessions.

A study published Tuesday by the BMJ Open linked prescription sleeping pills with a higher death risk in users – even casual users – than in non-users. Critics, including AASM President Nancy Collop, MD, were quick to caution physicians and patients about making any cause-and-effect conclusions from the study. "You cannot assume, just because you find this kind of association, that hypnotics are killing people," Dr. Collop said. "People who go on sleeping pills are a sicker population. I know (this study) tried to control for that, but these people simply are not as healthy."

Each year, the meeting’s networking reception brings together past colleagues and sparks new connections between attendees…all attendees of SLEEP 2012 are encouraged to attend this important event which benefits the American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF) and the Sleep Research Society Foundation (SRSF). This year, the SLEEP 2012 Networking Reception will be held on the evening of Sunday, June 10, 2012 from 6:00pm–7:30pm. Tickets are $50 per person and include an extensive selection of hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening, a drink ticket and live music.

The AASM invites members to apply for the Chair position of their primary membership section. Sections provide a forum for members with focused interests to share those interests, discuss ideas, stimulate research and recommend programs that promote education through the AASM.