Category Archives: Work Challenges

My Term on the NIH’s Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board (SDRAB)

August 11, 2025
My Term on the NIH’s Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board (SDRAB)
I completed my 4-year term on SDRAB last week. Here are some of the thoughts I shared with this amazing group of researchers, physicians and fellow patient advocates during my final meeting. I’m very encouraged that in recent years there’s been an increase in awareness of Delayed Sleep Wake Phase Disorder, which is characterized by an inability to fall asleep naturally until at least 4 am. It affects at least 1 in 600 people. Terms…
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Circadian Research Abounds at SLEEP 2019

August 11, 2019
Circadian Research Abounds at SLEEP 2019
I wrote the following article for the Circadian Sleep Disorders Network: On June 8 through the 12, the 2019 SLEEP Conference, the annual meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Sleep Research Society (SRS), was held in San Antonio, TX. The 4-day conference presented and discussed the latest developments in clinical sleep medicine, and sleep and circadian research. There were more than 100 sessions, with 24 focused on circadian rhythms - a substantial…
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“Just Go to Bed Earlier” (Work Rant)

November 28, 2018
“Just Go to Bed Earlier” (Work Rant)
A couple of of my bosses have advised me to "just go to bed earlier" as have many other people. Although most mean well, it's frustrating to hear and challenging to respond to diplomatically. If I could go to bed and fall asleep earlier, wouldn't I just do it? Early bird colleagues and friends can make late risers feel inferior fairly easily. After all, rising late is widely considered a moral failing - a culpable lack of willpower - like gluttony or infidelity. During…
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