Dear AASM colleagues — As we celebrate Thanksgiving, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for the dedication and expertise you bring to our field. Much like the coordinated efforts it takes to prepare a holiday celebration, our work as sleep professionals relies on the combined talents of diverse individuals working together toward our common mission. Your contributions — whether in research, patient care, education, or administration — serve as essential ingredients to advance sleep care and enhance sleep health to improve lives. I thank you for the impact you make every day.
My Thanksgiving contribution is dishwasher. It’s not a glamorous role, and I admit to some annual grumbling when surveying the initial post-meal kitchen scene and realizing the family once again found a way to use every plate, utensil, glass, pot, pan, gadget, and serving dish in the house! However, the gathering wouldn’t be complete without the behind-the-scenes clean-up. AASM members similarly tackle tasks that may sometimes seem unremarkable but are crucial to the bigger picture. I am especially grateful this Thanksgiving for all of you who embrace those unsung roles, such as mentoring, advocating, or tending to patient care details. Together, we create something extraordinary.
Thank you for being part of this incredible community, and may the holiday bring you and your families joy and peace.
Warm regards,
Eric J. Olson, MD
AASM President
