- Email: [email protected]
Scientific Highlights
Sleep Medicine 7 (2006) 91 www.elsevier.com/locate/sleep
Scientific Highlights
First Congress of the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) The World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM – Sleep health worldwide) held its first Congress in Berlin, Germany from October 15 to 18, 2005. Organized in conjunction with the German Sleep Medicine Society, the meeting attracted more than 1700 registrants, including several hundred who had combined registration to the two sequential but overlapping meetings. The WASM Congress had 1026 registrants and was organized primarily by Dr. Ingo Fietze of Charite Hospital in Berlin and Dr. Thomas Penzel from the University of Marburg. Dr. Sudhansu Chokroverty, President of WASM, was the guiding spirit behind the development of this successful initial Congress. Dr. William Dement was the honorary President of the meeting and delivered a plenary lecture on the history of sleep medicine. Keynote lectures were delivered by Christian Guilleminault, Alan Pack, Virend Somers, Max Hirshkowitz, Massaya Segawa, and Sonia Nevsimalova. Two main plenary symposia covered future aspects of the treatment of sleep medicine and hot topics in sleep medicine. A young investigators symposium presented the best abstracts submitted by young investigators. There were in addition 23 parallel topics symposia, 20 oral sessions for submitted abstracts, and daily poster sessions with guided review of the posters. Daily educational satellites were supported by industry. There were pre-Congress courses on October 15 and daily breakfast courses for the three days which were all well attended. A large exhibit covered both sleep technology and therapeutic modalities. Special sessions were devoted to the needs of dentists and sleep technicians. Two prizes were awarded to young sleep medicine professionals who published articles in Sleep Medicine, the official journal of WASM. Deborah Hutter, MD, won the Christian Guilleminault Sleep Medicine Award and Manindra Kalra, MD, won the Elio Lugaresi Sleep Science Award. Approximately 10 young investigators received awards for their submissions, and 10 travel awards were given to facilitate meeting attendance by junior professionals and students. The scientific committee of the Congress selected the three best abstracts for young investigator awards, and attendees voted to award the three best posters on the basis of best presentation. The social program exposed attendees to some of the most interesting and historical sites in Berlin. At the WASM biennial general meeting, Dr. Markku Partinen was elevated to the Predisdency of WASM. Dr. Chokroverty became Past-President but was also elected to the position of President-elect. This enthusiastically received meeting will be a template for the Second Congress to be held in Bangkok from February 4 to 8, 2007, which will have the same mix of special lectures, a wide range of clinic and related basic science topics, courses for both beginners and advanced sleep students, a varied and pleasant social schedule, and opportunities for awards and travel support for junior investigators and students. We welcome everyone to join us in Bangkok. Wayne Hening RLS Center, Asthma & Allergy SBTBLJH Bayview 4940 Eastern Avenue Baltimore, MD 21224 Ph. 212-477-7527 Fax 212-505-1613 e-mail: [email protected]
doi:10.1016/S1389-9457(05)00299-6
Scientific Highlights
First Congress of the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) The World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM – Sleep health worldwide) held its first Congress in Berlin, Germany from October 15 to 18, 2005. Organized in conjunction with the German Sleep Medicine Society, the meeting attracted more than 1700 registrants, including several hundred who had combined registration to the two sequential but overlapping meetings. The WASM Congress had 1026 registrants and was organized primarily by Dr. Ingo Fietze of Charite Hospital in Berlin and Dr. Thomas Penzel from the University of Marburg. Dr. Sudhansu Chokroverty, President of WASM, was the guiding spirit behind the development of this successful initial Congress. Dr. William Dement was the honorary President of the meeting and delivered a plenary lecture on the history of sleep medicine. Keynote lectures were delivered by Christian Guilleminault, Alan Pack, Virend Somers, Max Hirshkowitz, Massaya Segawa, and Sonia Nevsimalova. Two main plenary symposia covered future aspects of the treatment of sleep medicine and hot topics in sleep medicine. A young investigators symposium presented the best abstracts submitted by young investigators. There were in addition 23 parallel topics symposia, 20 oral sessions for submitted abstracts, and daily poster sessions with guided review of the posters. Daily educational satellites were supported by industry. There were pre-Congress courses on October 15 and daily breakfast courses for the three days which were all well attended. A large exhibit covered both sleep technology and therapeutic modalities. Special sessions were devoted to the needs of dentists and sleep technicians. Two prizes were awarded to young sleep medicine professionals who published articles in Sleep Medicine, the official journal of WASM. Deborah Hutter, MD, won the Christian Guilleminault Sleep Medicine Award and Manindra Kalra, MD, won the Elio Lugaresi Sleep Science Award. Approximately 10 young investigators received awards for their submissions, and 10 travel awards were given to facilitate meeting attendance by junior professionals and students. The scientific committee of the Congress selected the three best abstracts for young investigator awards, and attendees voted to award the three best posters on the basis of best presentation. The social program exposed attendees to some of the most interesting and historical sites in Berlin. At the WASM biennial general meeting, Dr. Markku Partinen was elevated to the Predisdency of WASM. Dr. Chokroverty became Past-President but was also elected to the position of President-elect. This enthusiastically received meeting will be a template for the Second Congress to be held in Bangkok from February 4 to 8, 2007, which will have the same mix of special lectures, a wide range of clinic and related basic science topics, courses for both beginners and advanced sleep students, a varied and pleasant social schedule, and opportunities for awards and travel support for junior investigators and students. We welcome everyone to join us in Bangkok. Wayne Hening RLS Center, Asthma & Allergy SBTBLJH Bayview 4940 Eastern Avenue Baltimore, MD 21224 Ph. 212-477-7527 Fax 212-505-1613 e-mail: [email protected]
doi:10.1016/S1389-9457(05)00299-6