The growing awareness of the importance of sleep and sleep disorders over the past 15-20 years of my career has been exciting and helpful to so many individuals around the world.  This awareness has been driven by major organizations, thought leaders, and the media – ranging from medical journals to the lay press to online resources.  I was recently asked to participate in an American Thoracic Society podcast on the current state of obstructive sleep apnea surgery.

The podcast was hosted by Rob Stansbury, MD, a sleep medicine physician at West Virgina University.  He led a discussion about the role of surgery in combined approaches (surgery as helpful for positive airway pressure therapy or oral appliances), drug-induced sleep endoscopy, and areas where we need to learn more in sleep apnea surgery.  The discussion included Edward M. Weaver, MD, MPH from the University of Washington, whom I consider a mentor, colleague, and friend.

You can find the podcast on the American Thoracic Society website.  I hope you find it interesting.