I was driven to become a neurologist out of my interest in how the brain works. After finishing my neurology residency, I went to Stanford University to do my sleep fellowship with the world-renowned Christian Guilleminault. Within the first few weeks, I became aware of what I call “basic truths about sleep disorders” that are so pivotal and impactful on overall health. I was so bothered that I had gone through 4 years of medical school, an internship, and 3 years of neurology residency without learning these “basic truths”, and had I known, it would have enhanced my ability to treat my patients. I said to myself, “it shouldn’t require a fellowship in sleep medicine to obtain these “basic truths about sleep disorders” and I made it my mission to be part of the solution and teach healthcare professionals these “truths” to enhance patient care.
During my academic position at UCLA in the 1990’s I was extensively involved in teaching neurology residents, medical students, and fellows. When I transitioned into private practice and moved to Texas my mission of teaching the “basic truths” had not changed. So, I started the Sleep Education Consortium in 2004 to spread the knowledge (Watch Video) to those who will never do a sleep fellowship yet could benefit from this knowledge of the “basic truths about sleep disorders”. Over the past 19 years, I have directed this conference, each year enhancing the knowledge of those who attend. I know, from the feedback I’ve received, that I have made an impact on many healthcare professionals, which proliferates the impact by enhancing the lives of their patients.
The educational battle has basically just begun. Medical schools only provide 2 to 4 hours, over four years, teaching medical students anything about sleep. It is my mission to help compensate for this deficit and teach the “basic truths about sleep disorders”. Working with my colleagues we have put together a course packed with information over several days to teach and raise the level of care to meet the needs of our patients.
The 2023 Sleep Education Consortium Conference focuses on the growing importance of addressing sleep disorders in order to provide a more comprehensive level of care. There is an unmet need resulting from a high prevalence of sleep disorders and a lack of education within our healthcare system. Most patients with sleep disorders go undiagnosed or mismanaged.
With sleep pathology now linked to other disease states, physicians need to get up to speed on how to properly identify and handle these patients. By the end of the conference, it will become clear how collaboration with dentists can enhance the overall health of patients.
Sleep issues don’t just start in adulthood. Often, the early stages of sleep pathology start during the pediatric years. What are the red flags and what are the current approaches to handling these issues? Frequently sleep issues can be found within entire families. This conference will cover it all and provide the tools needed t assist your patients, young and old:
The conference will allow you to become familiar with many sleep problems, enabling you to be more responsive to questions patients may ask as you screen for sleep and airway disorders during regular exams.
The educational methods used over the course of the conference will include lectures, Q&A, and panel discussions.
The two-day comprehensive conference course structure is tailored to provide medical professionals with the essentials you need to identify when a sleep disorder may be affecting your patient. And for those more focused on sleep and airway management, this conference will help you build your practice in this evolving area of sleep and airway medicine.
This course establishes the framework for enhancing collaboration between dental and medical professionals, using both didactic and clinical educational methods, in the diagnosis and management of patients with sleep and airway disorders. It will become clear how you can play a larger role in the overall health of your patients by learning to:
Physicians and staff attending this conference will become educated on the broad spectrum of sleep disorders on a basic level and learn, in a more detailed fashion, about sleep-related breathing disorders. You will gain knowledge that will help when screening for sleep disorders or providing guidance to patients who need proper medical care. There are no other courses for physicians of this kind. Filling the gap in our healthcare education system. A two-day course that will clearly enhance your clinical practice.
The conference will offer hands-on experience to practice performing an airway exam and working with dental professionals on obtaining exams and diagnostics. This course will provide you with a pathway for building this aspect of your medical practice while functioning within accepted medical standards.
Taking a sleep history is not something typically taught in medical or dental school. If you are interested in a comprehensive approach to patients with sleep issues and gaining knowledge of how to approach sleep history, the SEC conference is the place to go.
Want to get a jump start on what questions to ask? Try using the SEC’s one-page sleep questionnaire. Don’t wait until April’s SEC conference, get the FREE sleep questionnaire to start understanding what questions to ask patients now so that you can start enhancing your care of patients with sleep-related health issues.
Greenway Plaza, Houston, TX
6 E Greenway Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77046
TEL: +1-713-629-1200 | FAX: +1-713-850-2336