Strategic Ambassadors Program
The AASM Strategic Ambassador Program is a part of the AASM annual call for volunteers. All members are encouraged to submit their areas of interest as part of their volunteer application. The ambassador roles align and support the AASM mission and strategic plan.
Service as a strategic ambassador is a one-year appointment with an annual opportunity for reappointment.
Ambassador Roles
Strategic Goal: Sleep Medicine Awareness – engage in advocacy to promote the value of sleep medicine as a career.
Role for 2026/2027: Early Career Ambassadors will make connections and forge relationships to help students/residents navigate the field/specialty of sleep medicine.
Mirza Abu Sayeem, MBBS, FRCPC, ABIM
Cameron Barber, DO
Christopher Carosella, MD
Poonam Mishra, MD, FACP
Samira Naime, MD
Seema Rani, MD
Kevin Shayani, MD
Staff: Mariam Owodele, Nicole Casas
Strategic Goal: Practice Success – expand professional development opportunities for members.
Role for 2026/2027: Education Ambassadors will serve as a resource for educational content and review.
John Das, MD
Anupama Devara, MD
Meghana Doreswamy, MD
Karen A. Hentschel-Franks, DO, FAASM
Dmitriy Kogan, MD, FAASM
Venugopal Komakula, MD,MPH
Michael Mangold, MD, MPH, MS
Subhendu Rath, MBBS
Sharon L. Schutte-Rodin, MD
Marc Sherkin, MD
Bernie Sunwoo, MBBS
M. Iftekhar Ullah, MD, MPH
Nardine Zakhary, DO
Staff: Esther Eccleston, Garrett Spatz
Strategic Goal: Technology Integration – guide sleep team professionals in integrating new and emerging technologies in clinical care.
Role for 2026/2027: Emerging Technology Ambassadors assist in the review of existing #SleepTechnology assessments to identify outdated content and propose updates.
Jamila Battle, MD
Cosmo Fowler, MD
Sasikanth Gorantla, MD, FAASM
Bilgay Izci Balserak, PhD
Maninder Kalra, MD, FAASM
Deepthi Kotihal, MD
Roneil Malkani, MD, FAASM
Curtis J. Mello, MD, MPH
Navneet Ramesh, MD
Robert J. Rudock, MD, MBA
Likhita Shaik, MD
Punitha Vijayakumar, MD
Huzaifa Wasanwala, MD
Subaila Zia, MD, MBA, FAASM
Staff: Sarah Hashmi
Strategic Goal: Mission – Advancing sleep care and enhancing sleep health to improve lives.
Role for 2026/2027: Membership Ambassadors will serve as a resource for new members, nurture ongoing member connections, and enhances member experiences in person and virtually.
Tarun Amalnerkar, MPT
Shahab Haghayegh, PhD
Karthik Kanagarajan, MD
Takatoshi Kasai, MD, PhD, FAASM
Jay Pathmanathan, MD, PhD
Rajaram Pattar, MD
Malvika Sagar, MD
Surina Sharma, MBBS
Staff: Mariam Owodele, Nicole Casas
Strategic Goal: Sleep Medicine Awareness – engage in advocacy to promote the value of sleep medicine in public education.
Role for 2026/2027: Public Education Ambassadors will serve as a resource for non-media public education inquiries that match interest and availability.
Misol Kwon, PhD, RN
William F. Martin, PsyD, MPH , MSc, FAASM
Gina E. Mauldin, PA-C
Andrea Nguyen, MD
Olatunji S. Olaoye, MD, FACP, FAASM
Kathleen J. Sexton-Radek, PhD, D.BSM, FAASM
Muhammad Ali Syed, MD, FAASM
Douglas M. Wallace, MD
Annise Wilson, MD
Staff: Sarah Hashmi
Strategic Goal: Mission – Advancing sleep care and enhancing sleep health to improve lives.
Role for 2026/2027: Social Media Ambassadors will raise awareness, engage the community, and promote the AASM’s mission and initiatives through various social media platforms.
Karthik Kanagarajan, MD
Muhammad Usama, MD
Giuseppe Guglielmello, DO, FAASM
Ritesh Jha, MD
Yukti Karki, MD
Sandra Saade, MD
Matthew J. Viereck, MD
Staff: Kyra Samara, Satrina Marr