State Sleep Society Meetings 2022

The Mississippi Sleep Society hybrid Fall meeting was held on September 30^th, 2022, in Jackson, MS.

The hard work of President, Geoff Eade, RPSGT, CCSH, and his team was clear. As with anything technical, issues arose but everyone handled them with ease and minimal interruptions. They even secured a speaker from Australia who shared the "land-down-under's" efforts at promoting sleep awareness in their country. It's always eye opening to discuss the vast differences of the United States Medical system with other nations. Geoff's dedication to this event was impressive, this event was occurring all while his daughter was about to have his very first grandchild.

2 CPAP mask manufacturers had Gift Card drawings in which 2 lucky in-person attendees won! A lunch was hosted by Jazz pharmaceuticals with information about their new medication for idiopathic hypersomnia.

The Mississippi Sleep Society has been around since 2007 and incorporates all aspects of sleep medicine: technologists, physicians, durable medical equipment (DME) companies, and medical suppliers. "It is our goal to provide and promote professional education opportunities in sleep medicine across our great state." If you would like more information on how you can get involved in the Mississippi Sleep Society visit their website Welcome to the Mississippi Sleep Society (mssleepsociety.com)

The Louisiana Academy of Sleep Medicine held their annual meeting on October 28^th and 29^th, 2022. This hybrid event was their first post COVID event. It was held in Kenner, LA.

Many attendees showed up in person or via zoom to hear the latest news, research, and insightful information from prestigious thought leaders in the sleep medicine industry, most who are active in the state of Louisiana.

Speakers ranged from Teofilio Lee-Chiong, MD, speaking about how to personalize OSA management and popular myths about sleep, to Kelsey Brasseaux, MA, CCC-SLP, CLC introducing the audience to the importance of myofunctional therapy. Important sleep tech topics like rising patient acuity were discussed by Martha B. Smith, RPSGT, RST, CCSH, FAAST. Rising complexity in the sleep lab is an important factor to recognize for sleep techs. Techs were encouraged to think about the CEUs they collect and ensure topics are relevant to the increase of patient comorbidities in the sleep lab and how to respond.

Several physicians were speaking and in attendance and were able to receive CMEs in addition to Sleep technologists receiving their CEU's. The exhibit room held our table for Focus Sleep School as well as CPAP mask manufacturers with local reps, diagnostics PSG systems, and new and updated sleep technologies to add to your sleep practice.

A networking event was scheduled for Friday Night where the attendees were invited to switch up their shoes and do some bowling. This was a great opportunity to meet colleagues in a casual setting. A photo booth turned the event up a notch (see evidence to the side). 

The hard-working efforts of the LASM was more than evident. The agenda ran smoothly and was organized in a way that the audience was never bored. They handled technical difficulties and scheduling hiccups with ease. I had the pleasure of meeting most of the LASM Board of Directors. They were so friendly and helpful with teaching me more about sleep medicine in Louisiana. I would like to thank the current LASM president Fr. Wade S. J. Young, LRPSGT, RST for the personal invitation to attend this event.

The mission of the LASM is "To further the understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, to provide a forum for communication and education of sleep professionals, and to promulgate the highest standards for polysomnography and the clinical diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, for the people of Louisiana." If you would like to learn more about the organization and how you can get involved visit http://www.lasmnet.org.

My first sleep meeting I attended was in 2014 and I have been encouraging my colleagues to go ever since. The national meetings hosted by AAST and AASM are great for learning sleep in a broad sense but if you aren't planning to move from where you live now, attending your state or regional meeting will be incredibly valuable for your career. The networking aspects alone are great but there is something about the fellowship of like-minded individuals gathering in one place that makes your local events so special. If you haven't looked into your local society, do it now! The AAST has a great list found here.