Serving you as AAST president this year has been a wonderful experience, and I’ve enjoyed being able to speak to members throughbeplay体育app ios。我always tried to remain open and honest when it comes to addressing members. I was told that as a leader, there would be some days when staying positive would be difficult. That’s true, as I’m only human. I’ve also learned that my attitude can have a critical influence on everyone around me. That’s the burden of leadership. Over the past two years I’ve worked hard to facilitate and support a good working relationship with all the key players within the sleep profession. That hasn’t been easy, nor have I always received the warmest of welcomes.

约翰·f·肯尼迪曾说:“变化是l的法则ife. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.” I strongly believe that. So, as we look to the future of our profession, what will we see? The AAST board realizes that there are significant changes on the horizon that may have a substantial impact on the profession of sleep technology. Collaboratively, we’ve worked hard over the past 18 months to develop our new strategic plan. With the recent changes to healthcare in the U.S., the AAST has been trying to envision what the possible “new blueprint” of sleep might be. The AAST has started to work on educational offerings for our membership in response to those “envisioned changes.” This year’s fall course,Out of Center Sleep Testing and the Future of Sleep Technology,will help sleep centers plan for the future.

The AAST is excited to welcome Dr. Richard Rosenberg as our new Coordinator. Dr. Rosenberg has been working with the AAST for many years and has collaborated with us on several educational products. I want to personally welcome him in his new role as AAST Coordinator in the national office and let the membership know that this is a wonderful move forward for the AAST.

The AAST board and Dr. Rosenberg, along with the Education Committee, have been reviewing and evaluating new opportunities for sleep centers that include programs and products on Out of Center Sleep Testing (OCST), PAP-NAPS, physician clinics, durable medical equipment (DME), oral appliance therapy, and behavioral sleep medicine. We’ve been working to provide relevant policies and procedures for all new programs being intergraded into our sleep centers. We’ll also be focusing on tracking patient outcomes, patient compliance, and insurance requirements. Our goal is to meet the needs of our membership and keep both the AAST and our members current on all issues affecting our profession now and in the future.

Now that I’m in the last few months of my term as AAST president, I will be diligent in my efforts to continue fostering good relations with all stakeholders. The winds of change are upon us. I know there are differences among us regarding the impact and effects of the changes we face. I have made an effort to seek the right answers, place no blame for the past, and to understand that I alone am responsible for my attitude. I can never show how grateful I am to each of you who have shown your loyal support, confidence and acceptance even when our processes may not have seemed clear to you. Thank you.

Until we meet again,

Melinda Trimble
AAST President