Jerald H Simmons, MD, a pioneer in sleep medicine since 1991, is the Founding Director of The Sleep Education Consortium (SEC) and Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associates, PA (CSMA), he is Triple Board-Certified by the American Board of: Psychiatry and Neurology, Sleep Medicine and Clinical Neurophysiology. He graduated from medical school at Ohio State University, then trained in Neurology at Washington University, afterwards training in Sleep Medicine at Stanford University, and then Epilepsy at the University of California. Beginning his professional career as Assistant Professor of Neurology at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) while codirecting the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center and directing the Clinical Neurophysiology Lab at Olive View UCLA. In 1999, he relocated to Texas, establishing the Sadler Clinic Sleep Disorders Center, in 2001 he founded REST Technologies, Inc., and in 2006 he founded Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associates, PA which has four Texas locations.

With his academic mindset, research has always been part of his professional activities. Recent research involves new technologies to monitor patients during sleep remotely; using simplified, wearable devices to enhance patient management. He was awarded a grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH), as principal investigator, on a study monitoring pregnant women throughout gestation, capturing the onset of obstructive sleep apnea using wearable technology. He is also the chairman of a task force sanctioned by the American Dental Association (ADA), Children's Airway Screen Taskforce (CAST), directed to develop a new protocol for screening young children for sleep-related breathing disturbances, Children's General Airway Screen Protocol (CGASP), for the detection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) allowing for early intervention in young children, focusing on reducing the burden of obstructive sleep apnea in future generations.

He trained under the mentorship of the “father of sleep” William Dement, MD, PhD and sleep medicine pioneer who discovered the Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, Christian Guilleminault, MD, while at Stanford University. Dr. Simmons is an early pioneer in the study and education of enhancing awareness of the important relationship between—clenching/sleep bruxism/TMJ disorder with OSA, as well as the relationship between ADHD and disturbances of sleep, having lectured to the healthcare community on these topics for approximately 30-years.

Also, education is an important aspect of his career, by training medical students, residents, and fellows in sleep medicine. Then establishing the SEC as an outreach to educate the healthcare community. He was instrumental in guiding the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, leading to the new rules requiring dentists to obtain specific education in sleep medicine to provide appliance therapy to patients with OSA.

Collaboration has been a central theme for Doctor Simmons throughout the years, having worked closely with dentists since the mid-1990s and other types of healthcare professions, and he sits on the board of many organizations, including the American Academy of Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry, which promotes an annual Collaboration Cures conference.

With over 10 years of experience as a sleep surgeon and researcher, Dr. Liu is committed to improving the wellness of patients with sleep breathing disorders. He currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Nova Southeastern University, where he leads a team of faculty and residents in providing high-quality care and education. The program, in transition from a 4 year to a 6 year-MD track, is well-known for strengths in head and neck cancer and facial trauma.

Dr. Liu has a strong academic and clinical background in sleep surgery, having trained and taught at Stanford University School of Medicine (Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Fellowship Director of Sleep Surgery), published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, held board positions at the California Sleep Society and the World Dentofacial Sleep Society, and has given keynotes at conferences including APSS and WSS.

In addition to his clinical and academic roles,Dr. Liu advises and consults for Medtech startups, such as Revery, a digital health company that delivers cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) on a mobile gaming platform.

He is passionate about advancing sleep and airway health with timely interventions during developmental milestones of the face and airway. He believes that innovation in the field of sleep and breathing will come from integration of medicine, surgery, dentistry, functional exercises, and wearable technology.

Rafael Pelayo, MD is a clinical professor at Stanford University’s Sleep Medicine division and the author of How to Sleep. Since 1993 he has worked at the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic treating patients of all ages. He teaches the popular Dement’s Sleep and Dreams undergraduate course and co-authored the textbook with Dr. William Dement. He has lectured throughout the country and internationally. He helped lead the effort to delay school start times for adolescents in California. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Puerto Rico.

His initial exposure to sleep medicine was as a medical student at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and it became the focus of his career. He trained in child neurology as a pathway into sleep medicine. He currently volunteers in leadership positions for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the National Sleep Foundation, Start School Later, and the California Sleep Society.

Dr. Dave McCarty is a board-certified specialist in Sleep Medicine and a pioneer in the practice of patient-centered care for those who suffer from sleep disorders. An award-winning educator, he is passionate about empowering individuals with knowledge that restores confidence and personal agency, as each patient navigates the landscape of disease and wellness, within an increasingly fragmented healthcare system.

He is the co-creator of the Empowered Sleep Apnea project…

…an innovative cross-platform educational project combining storytelling, cartooning, scientific rigor, and quite a bit of fun, all in the name of helping individuals (and providers) navigate the fascinating but complex disorder known as “Sleep Apnea.” In 2025, the project comprises a website, a book (Empowered Sleep Apnea: A Handbook for Patients and the People Who Care About Them, co-authored with Ellen Stothard, PhD), a blog (Dave’s Notes), a podcast (Empowered Sleep Apnea: THE PODCAST), National and International speaking engagements, and cartoons and Op-Eds published in print media.

He is the Chief Medical Officer of Rebis Health, a future-facing Sleep Medicine ecosystem that empowers the provider-patient partnership to co-discover Sleep Health, together.

Dr. Louise O'Brien has a unique expertise in the field of sleep and maternal/infant health since having been involved in women’s health research (including prenatal, maternal, fetal, and infant health research) since 1992 and in sleep research since 2001. One of my main areas of investigation is the impact of sleep disruption on adverse pregnancy outcomes. She was responsible for developing collaborations between the Sleep Disorders Center and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Michigan Medicine, which has resulted in multiple successful studies, including NIH-funded, foundation-funded, and privately-funded work. She also direct many other studies of the impact of sleep disruption in non-pregnant women, infertile women, pregnant/postpartum women, and in the health of the fetus/infant/child, as well as maintaining active work in pediatric sleep research and the impact of poor sleep on childhood learning and behavior.

She has given multiple invited lectures both nationally and internationally and has built numerous collaborations around the world. In addition, Dr. O'Brien has significant experience and commitment to training the next generation of clinical researchers and physician-scientists; having trained numerous undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and clinical fellows as well as junior faculty.

atin Tekchandani (JT), MSBME, R. EEG T., RPSGT began his sleep career as a nocturnal pediatric polysomnographic technologist, acquiring real-world clinical insights while simultaneously completing both a Bachelor and Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Houston. Jatin’s clinical expertise is distinguished by a unique combination of board certifications, including Registered Electroencephalographic Technologist, Registered Polysomnographic Technologist, and Clinical Sleep Educator.

Jatin has configured the intricate systems that keep data flowing at world-class institutions such as Stanford, Baylor, and VA Medical Centers. He holds the CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist certification, reflecting his dedication to resilient medical data infrastructure.

Jatin has delivered presentations to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the Texas Society of Sleep Professionals, the Children's Airway First Foundation, and the Los Angeles Tribune. He shared his vision for revolutionizing neurological care through technology in his TEDx talk, "Better Living Through Neuroengineering."

Funke Afolabi-Brown, MD, FAASM, is a triple board-certified sleep medicine physician and founder of The Restful Sleep Place, a concierge sleep and wellness practice serving children and adults. Her work focuses on the comprehensive evaluation and management of sleep disorders across the lifespan, with an emphasis on translating evidence-based sleep medicine into real-world clinical practice.
Dr. Afolabi-Brown earned her medical degree from University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, and completed her pediatrics residency and research fellowship at Maimonides Children’s Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. She subsequently completed fellowship training in pediatric pulmonology at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and sleep medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is board-certified in pediatrics, pediatric pulmonology, and sleep medicine.
Through her clinical practice and consulting work, Dr. Afolabi-Brown is particularly interested in advancing practical, multidisciplinary approaches to sleep care, including the integration of behavioral, medical, and emerging diagnostic strategies to improve patient outcomes.
She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. She has authored peer-reviewed publications and is the best-selling author of Beyond Tired: A Sleep Physician’s Guide to Solving Your Child’s Sleep Problems for Good. Her work has been featured in ABC, Forbes, Yahoo, Essence and The New York Times.

Dr. Chris Tran earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., and completed his internship and residency at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

Board-certified in otolaryngology, Dr. Tran treats patients of all ages. His clinical interests include addressing sleep apnea, sinonasal problems, tethered oral tissues, myofascial pain, and utilizing laser therapy.

Practicing at the forefront of patient-centered medicine, Dr. Tran is dedicated to helping his patients explore all of their options and work with them to develop comprehensive plans to enhance their breathing, sleep and overall quality of life.

Dr. Tran takes a collaborative approach to treat patient symptoms but also address their root causes. By working closely with a multidisciplinary range of specialists that includes dental providers, sleep medicine physicians, myofunctional therapists, bodyworkers and lactation consultants, Dr. Tran addresses both anatomic and functional breathing issues.

Dr. Tran prides himself on being open-minded and committed to continuous learning and the advancement of medical solutions.

After graduating from Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry in 1989, he started his specialization in orthodontics and doctoral training at Harvard School of Dental Medicine as a scholarship student. He completed his doctorate degree in 1994 and won 2 prestigious awards. "Thomas Graber Awards of Special Merit” given by the American Association of Orthodontists and The Moorrees Award of Excellence from the Harvard Society for the Advancement of Orthodontics to honor his doctorate degree research during his postdoctoral orthodontic training at Harvard.

After completing his studies in US, he was appointed as a faculty to the Department of Orthodontics at Marmara University in Istanbul. After receiving associate professorship in 2002, he served as the clinical director of the Department of Orthodontics at University of Connecticut until 2005. Afterwards he started working as a part-time faculty member at Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

In 2017 he received his professorship for his academic achievements. Ahmet Keles has many patents. His inventions “Keles Keyless Expander”, “Keles Slider” and “Keles Face Mask” are widely used in the United States. He gives many courses and seminars in the field of orthodontics and has over 30 scientific publications and served as referee for many orthodontic journals and he was the former abstract and review editor of World Journal of Orthodontics.

Currently, he serves his patients in his private practice in Istanbul and teaches postdoctoral students at Harvard. He is the international vice president of the Harvard Dental Alumni for the Advancement of Orthodontics.

Dr. David Alfi is a board-certified, dual-degree oral and maxillofacial surgeon who specializes in craniofacial and orthognathic surgery and rehabilitation. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, he attended Columbia University dental school, where there is a heavy emphasis on the academics of oral surgery. While earning his dental degree, in addition to oral surgery, he took a special interest in radiology, anesthesia, and medical management.

Following residency, Dr. Alfi joined Houston Methodist and Texas Children’s Hospital, working as an academic professor and full-scope surgeon. He then wanted to expand beyond the basics and became involved with researching innovative surgical techniques, improving patient care, and educating future surgeons.

More recently, Dr. Alfi has started his own private practice with the vision to excel in surgical outcomes and advance the field with research and development of surgical techniques. He takes pride in making his patients feel calmer and more comfortable by them knowing that the care they are receiving is without compromise. To do this, he remains at the forefront of new techniques and technology. Dr. Alfi is grateful for every opportunity to help someone achieve happiness through better health.

Dr. Michael DeLuke was born and raised in Upstate NY and represents the third generation of DeLuke’s entering the dental profession. His grandfather, the late Dominick DeLuke, was a prominent oral surgeon whose four sons all became dentists. In addition, Dr. Mike’s two cousins also became dentists making it 8 dentists spanning three generations in the DeLuke family!

Dr. DeLuke attended Villanova University and graduated cum laude in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science and a Minor in Spanish. He then went on to receive his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the SUNY Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine where he was class Valedictorian and the recipient of fourteen academic and clinical awards at graduation, including the award for obtaining the highest score on the National Board Examination. He was also one of only two graduates inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the prestigious national dental honor society that acknowledges outstanding academic achievement and high moral character.

He went on to obtain his Certificate of Proficiency in Orthodontics and Master of Dental Science (MDS) from the University of Connecticut, where he was Co-Chief Resident of the Orthodontic Program in his final year. Dr. DeLuke is a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics and has served as the orthodontist on the prestigious Cleft Craniofacial Team at Albany Medical Center and as a clinical professor at both Ellis Hospital and the University of Connecticut Health Center.

In addition to running DeLuke Orthodontic Coaching (DOC) and producing The DOC Podcast, Dr. DeLuke sits on the Editorial Board of Orthotown Magazine, and serves as a visiting faculty member in the Department of Orthodontics at Montefiore Einstein in Bronx, NY.

Rob W. Veis, DDS is the President and CEO of Space Maintainers Laboratories. He served as a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Southern California for more than a decade, he lectures internationally on topics ranging from the application of appliance therapy dental techniques to dental economics and practice building.

He is the co-author of the Manual of Appliance Therapy for Adults and Children, author of The Practice Building Bulletin, and the co-author of the Treatment of Snoring and Sleep Apnea for the General Dentist. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the American Academy of Gnathologic Orthodontics, and the Academy of Sports Dentistry.

He currently maintains a private practice in Los Angeles.

Dr. Kevin Boyd is a board-certified Pediatric Dentist in Chicago who holds an M.Sc. degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics. He teaches in the Pediatric Dentistry residency training program at Lurie Children’s Hospital and also serves as a dental consultant to the Lurie Sleep Medicine service.

Dr. Boyd is an adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Arkansas mentoring PhD research, and also serves as a Visiting Consulting Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archeology and Anthropology where he is collaboratively exploring a hypothetical relationship between changed dietary practices since the Industrial Revolution and diminished human dentofacial development.

He lectures worldwide on the topics of Early Childhood Malocclusion (under age 72 months), pediatric sleep-breathing hygiene, and Evolutionary Oral Medicine/Darwinian Dentistry.

Dr. Bruno Frazão Gribel is an orthodontist based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, known for his contributions to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. For the past twenty years, he has been at the forefront of integrating advanced 3D technologies into dental practice, improving diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and the digital fabrication of orthodontic appliances. In 2005, Dr. Gribel introduced the first 3D cephalometric analysis for cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans, incorporating both traditional two-dimensional measurements and new craniofacial metrics. This innovation allowed for accurate assessments of occlusal plane inclinations and facial asymmetries. In 2006, he developed an algorithm that transformed 2D cephalometric patterns into three-dimensional analyses, paving the way for virtual 3D planning of orthodontic treatments. His expertise also extends to the development of 3D printed surgical guides, which have been instrumental in more than 7,000 orthognathic surgeries since 2007.

In 2011, he launched the first Brazilian orthodontic aligner system, offering complete solutions for various types of malocclusion. His research includes: - Digital indirect bonding techniques; - Use of clear aligners for pre-surgical pediatric orthopedics in patients with cleft lip and palate; - Direct 3D printing of orthodontic appliances.

In addition to his clinical and research activities,
Dr. Gribel is CEO/FOUNDER of COMPASS 3D, a company specializing in advanced dental technologies. He is also affiliated with the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC-Minas), contributing to the academic community through research and mentoring. His professional trajectory reflects a strong commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology into patient-centered care, positioning him as a leader in modern orthodontics.

Samantha has been involved with Myofunctional Sciences since 2009 working in two clinics that specialize in breathing remediation and orofacial myofunctional therapy with children and adults.

In addition to being a therapist, she is a director of the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT), whose curriculum leads the area of myofunctional therapy, helping facilitate the latest evidence based research touching on breathing remediation, sleep disorders, TMJ disorders, posture, fascia-release, and frenulum inspection and surgery. She holds two Bachelors, one in Performance Studies (Northwestern University) and one in Communicative Disorders and Sciences (Utah State University), and a Masters of Science in Communicative Disorders (CSUN). Samantha is a founding board member of the Academy of Applied Myofunctional Sciences (AAMS), is an adjunct professor at Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco and supports research on myofunctional therapy at several universities around the world.

Samantha is the Media Director for the AAMS 5th Congress and is passionate about telling the stories of patient voices and the stories inside Myofunctional Sciences.

Maggie Lavender is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner licensed in Texas with specialization in Sleep Disorders Medicine and Neurology. She attended Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She began her career working in a pediatric intensive care and burn unit. She later moved to Houston, Texas and continued her career in a neuroscience intensive care unit at a level one trauma center. She then completed her Master of Science in Nursing and Post-Master’s Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certificate simultaneously at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Her Nurse Practitioner career began in Houston, Texas at Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associates (CSMA) alongside Dr. Jerald Simmons, beginning in 2012. Maggie has evolved to be a recognized Nurse Practitioner specialist on a national level, and currently functions as a consultant and lecturer on the management of narcolepsy patients.

She is currently practicing again at CSMA and is specializing in comprehensive sleep disorders, neurology, and epilepsy.

Maggie’s passion for nursing and caring for people began in early childhood. She has always been driven to provide exceptional care to every one of her patients, not only treating symptoms, but also by educating and providing preventative medical care to promote healthy lifestyles. Maggie is forever grateful for the blessing and opportunity to care for and help individuals regain their happiness in life.

Maggie and her husband reside in Montgomery, Texas with their daughter and son. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending quality time with her family.

Nicole Goldfarb founded the San Diego Center For Speech Therapy & Myofunctional Therapy (SDCST) in 2003. She is one of only three practicing Certified Orofacial Myologists in San Diego County (as of 2020). Nicole also has the distinction of being one of only three Certified Orofacial Myologists in all of San Diego that also has a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, an unparalleled combination of degrees which allows her to provide the most advanced and comprehensive treatment, as most patients with speech issues also have myofunctional issues. In achieving her orofacial myofunctional therapy certification, Nicole received the highest score ever appointed on the International Association of Orofacial Myology certification exam at that time. She has been practicing speech-language pathology since 2003 and myofunctional therapy since 2008. Nicole has achieved numerous trainings in both speech-language pathology and myofunctional disorders, and she has a special passion and interest in sleep-disordered breathing and diagnosing restricted frenums as they relate to myofunctional disorders. Nicole received intensive and advanced training for over a year with the nationally renowned Certified Orofacial Myologist, Katha Phair. Katha trained Nicole in her unique, specialized, and unmatched techniques that she had developed and refined over the past 40 years. In 2014, Katha Phair selected Nicole to take over her myofunctional therapy practice. Nicole holds a solid foundation in the application of research and clinical knowledge in the fields of Speech-Language Pathology and Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders. Nicole is an extremely thorough clinician, has a profound knowledge-base, and utilizes evidence-based standards which are evident in her detailed assessments, treatment planning, and long-term patient care and follow-up.

Nicole has presented all around San Diego and internationally on Myofunctional Therapy as it relates to Sleep-Disordered Breathing in both children and adults. Nicole is currently on the Child Airway Initiative Task Force (CAST), a small national team developing the universal screening tool for all dentists to use to screen for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) as per the 10/2017 ADA proposal that all dentists should screen all patients for SDB. As of 2019, Nicole is 1 of 15 people from across the country on this team supported by the American Dental Association (ADA) developing the universal screening tool that all dentists and orthodontists across the United States will use to screen children for sleep apnea and sleep-disordered breathing, and it is estimated that pediatricians will be using this screening tool for all patients in the upcoming years as well. Having a child with sleep apnea identified at the age of 2 years old sparked Nicole’s passion and special interest in pediatric sleep-disordered breathing. Nicole’s life-long quest is to help in the early identification and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing.