APSS Inclusive Leadership Award

The Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS) Inclusive Leadership Award (previously known as the DEI Leadership Award) recognizes individuals for significant contributions to growing the field of sleep medicine and/or sleep and circadian science. The APSS is a joint initiative of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Sleep Research Society (SRS). The award has been given annually since 2021.

The award is presented during the SLEEP annual meeting of the APSS each June. The recipient receives complimentary registration for SLEEP, a commemorative plaque, recognition in SLEEP meeting materials, and an opportunity to discuss their contributions. The recipient is notified in March, and their selection is announced in an APSS press release.

Applications for the 2026 award will be accepted from November 5 through December 21, 2025.

  1. The award recipient will be an individual (member or non-member) who has made significant contributions to the field of sleep medicine and/or sleep and circadian science in one or more of the following areas:
    1. Working to broaden access and representation within the sleep medicine field (including trainees, technologists, etc.) and/or among sleep and circadian scientists.
    2. Developing sleep-related educational programs targeted to diverse providers, researchers, trainees, or patient populations, including bias awareness training
    3. Research or clinical work aimed at reducing sleep health disparities in diverse populations
  2. Nominees may not be a current AASM/SRS Board member or Board member who completed their term in the previous administrative year.

If you are interested in nominating yourself or a colleague, please be prepared to submit:

  • Online nomination form
  • Letter of support from an individual familiar with the nominee’s work, broadening access and representation and highlighting the nominee’s qualifications and efforts in the three areas described above
  • Curriculum vitae, biosketch or resume
  • Optional materials: additional statement, letter of support or samples of programs/work done

Applications for the 2026 award are now closed.

APSS DEI Leadership Award Recipients

2025 – A.J. Schwichtenberg, Ph.D

2024 – Michael A. Grandner, PhD, MTR

2023 – Dayna A. Johnson, PhD, MPH, MSW, MS

2022 – Chandra Jackson, PhD, MS, and Girardin Jean-Louis, PhD

2021 – Charlene Gamaldo, MD

Questions? Please contact [email protected]