On the road to ATS - San Diego I

I am in San Diego for the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society (ATS). This the third meeting of theirs I have attended (it being the first medical conference I attended after becoming the E.D. for the ASAA). At the right is a picture of street performers playing the didgeridoo. I was tempted to ask them whether they snore - but figured that it would end up costing a lot more than what it cost to take the picture.

The plane ride to San Diego was interested. Many of the people on the plane were on their way here. I could tell because they looked like medical students and they were all carrying the tubes with contains the "poster" for the research they are doing and will be presenting at the conference. In addition, my seat mates were in route to the meeting, but one was coming to present a talk on the future of scholarly publication in light of the changing laws about public access to published research funded with government money (yawn). This is actually important stuff. He is based in Bethesda and is the E.D. for a professional association there. He is someone I'd like to get to know.

The second was a young woman who represents a drug company. She is coming to the meeting to participate in the trade show. She was very talkative on the plane... something that took me and the other fellow a bit aback, but we got into with her. That is until she found out what I do and the conversation changed - as it usually does, especially when there is someone with sleep apnea. Well it turns out that she thinks her dad has sleep apnea - not diagnosed. He snores loudly and has had a number of serious problems with his heart. He is fortunate to still be alive. She reported that her grandfather died of a heart attack at a young age and that he was a snorer. Looking at this attractive slender young woman you would not think she is a candiate for the "fellowship of the mask" but in fact she complains of excessive daytime sleepiness and looking closely at her I noticed that she had something of an overbite - a recessed jaw being a physical condition that can contribute obstructive sleep apnea. I gave her my card and suggested she get a sleep study. She thanked me - another life saved....

The higlight of the day was my dinner meeting with Dr. Alberto Servin Diaz, a pulmonolgist and sleep doctor from Tijuana. Here is a link to his web site http://www.ronquido.net/ronquido2/index.php

We have corresponded for sometime and we took this opportunity to meet and discuss where we might work together. It turns out that one of his patients is very interested in the A.W.A.K.E. support group concept that we sponsor. I let Alberto know that I would happy to furnish the materials necessary for him to establish a group in Tijuana. He indicated that knows of other sleep docs in Mexico and Central America who would be intrested the support group model and working through the ASAA to provide educational resources to their patients. The discussion went as far as to talk about establishing a Mexican version of the ASAA, but we stopped ourselves and said first things first.

Another item discussed was making our resources available in Spanish. Albert indicated a willingness to help there. I suggested that we add a "topic" on the Apnea Support Forum for to ask and answer questions in Spanish. Now we have to get to the implementation.

I was pleased with my first day here - except for the delay in the booth material getting here. No matter, it is was a beautiful and very productive day (we are heading south of the border).

Sleep Apnea Awareness Day (SAAD) 2006 - reflections (Part 2)

What I write here truly constitute reflections with the amount that has passed since Sleep Apnea Awareness Day. I had prepared something closer to the event, but through technological ineptness lost it... so, discouraged, I left it for awhile.

March 30th was Sleep Apnea Awareness Day and ostensibly it was "during National Sleep Awareness Week" but we weren't collaborating at the same level with the National Sleep Foundation.

The most frustrating element of the lecture this was, find a speaker. That process took far too long and actually jeporadized the entire event. (Note to self: start looking now - for someone to do it in 2007) Yes, I want every much to have a lecture in 2007, though who will be speaking is another question.

When were not able to secure the first speaker we had identified, I used a connection and was able get the former senior policy advisor to the administrator to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to speak.

I felt we had allowed enough time to get the word out about the event and I made efforts to follow up with the A list invitees. The showing was not as impressive as it might have been. And certainly my marketing of the event to more patients was not as extensive as it might have been.

The lecture was held at the Carnegie Institution, which continues to be the most beautiful place to hold an event like this. The caterering was splendid as it was last year. It would have nice to have a few more - many more people.

Enough good things can not be said for the American College of Chest Physicians - Sleep Institute, our partners in the venture of the lecture. In addition to the much appreciated financial support we receive from them for the expenses of the lecture; their guidance and collaboration on "getting the word out" makes a difference every year. Pictured to the left with is Dr. Charles Atwood who is the Chair of the Sleep Institute. I am grateful for their continuing support and look forward to continuing our association on this important event.

As I think about next year's event - I know the following: choose a speaker early, initial the marketing efforts early and (perhaps most importantly) find a volunteer to take responsiblity for running with it.