News Release

Sleep societies announce inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership Award

Award recognizes the work of Dr. Charlene Gamaldo of Johns Hopkins Medicine

Grant and Award Announcement

American Academy of Sleep Medicine

DARIEN, IL - Sleep medicine physician and sleep researcher Dr. Charlene Gamaldo of Johns Hopkins Medicine is the recipient of the inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership Award from the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC, a joint initiative of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

The award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of sleep medicine or sleep and circadian science through their work to increase the diversity, equity and inclusion of sleep medicine providers, or the development of educational programs, research, or clinical work aimed at reducing disparities. The award presentation will occur Thursday, June 10, during the plenary session of Virtual SLEEP 2021, the 35th annual meeting of the APSS.

"The APSS is committed to fostering a more diverse, equitable and inclusive sleep field, and we are grateful for the leadership of Dr. Gamaldo to support these efforts at Johns Hopkins and in her professional networks," said APSS President Dr. Andrew Krystal. "Her efforts to diversify the sleep field and close the gap of health disparities will have a lasting and positive impact."

Gamaldo is the medical director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep and Wellness in Baltimore, Maryland, and a professor of neurology for Johns Hopkins Medicine with joint appointments in psychiatry, nursing, anesthesiology, and public health. She has led collaborative research efforts and contributed to scholarly publications to close the gap in health equities in sleep, advance our understanding of the relationship of social determinants of health and medical outcomes, and foster a more inclusive health care team at all levels. Gamaldo's investigations aim to further understand the inter-relationship of sleep with medical conditions such as sickle cell disease and HIV in predominantly Black cohorts.

Gamaldo serves in DEI leadership roles for Johns Hopkins and the American Academy of Neurology, and she is vice-chair of the AAN Anti-Racism and Social Justice Task Force.

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To register as press for Virtual SLEEP 2021, contact AASM Communications Coordinator Corinne Lederhouse at 630-737-9700, ext. 9366, or at clederhouse@sleepmeeting.org.

About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Established in 1975, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is advancing sleep care and enhancing sleep health to improve lives. The AASM has a combined membership of 11,000 accredited member sleep centers and individual members, including physicians, scientists and other health care professionals (aasm.org).

About the Sleep Research Society The Sleep Research Society (SRS) is a professional membership society that advances sleep and circadian science. The SRS provides forums for the exchange of information, establishes and maintains standards of reporting and classifies data in the field of sleep research, and collaborates with other organizations to foster scientific investigation on sleep and its disorders. The SRS also publishes the peer-reviewed, scientific journals Sleep and Sleep Advances (sleepresearchsociety.org).


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