Sleep Apnea & Multi-Modal Transportation Conference Program and Website Announced

Today the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) announced plans for its 2011 Sleep Apnea & Multi-Modal Transportation Conference (SAMTC) on November 8 – 9, 2011 at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center. Currently co-sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), this second in a series of health and safety conferences focuses on the role of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) management within the major modes of transportation, including air, rail, ground and maritime.

"Last year's conference received unanimous praise for providing the most up-to-date information and exploring a range of issues on the impact of undiagnosed OSA in trucking", said ASAA Executive Director, Edward Grandi. "With the National Transportation Safety Board issuing recommendations for sleep apnea management in all major modes of transportation, we believe this conference will be tremendously beneficial for the regulatory agencies, industries and employees coping with the health, safety and economic issues associated with this increasingly visible problem to share updates, information and ideas."

The 2011 SAMTC is organized by ASAA to provide a state-of-the-OSA science approach with a specific focus on practical issues relevant to operating companies and their employees. Conference topics and speakers will hone in on operational considerations pertaining to OSA diagnosis and treatment which ultimately affect fitness, certification, and related workplace issues. Informative presentations, reality-based program implementation and outcomes, and panel discussions will provide a forum in which current practices can be identified and discussed from all relevant viewpoints.

Among others, currently anticipated and invited speakers include:

Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA)

Mark R. Rosekind, Ph.D., Member, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

John Howard, MD, PhD, JD, Director National Institute for Occupation Safety & Health (NIOSH)

Bernard Arseneau, DO, MD, Medical Director, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

Benisse Lester, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Federal Motor Carriers Safey Administration

Mitchell Garber, M.D., Medical Officer, National Transportation Safety Board

Natalie P. Hartenbaum, MD, MPH, FACOEM, President/Chief Medical Officer, OccuMedix

Jeffrey Durmer, MD, PhD, Co-Founder/Chief Medical Officer, Fusion Sleep

Steven R. Hursh, PhD, President, Institutes for Behavior Resources

Attendees' benefits include the following:

Gain up-to-date, accurate and informative reports on sleep apnea and its impact on transportation health and safety

Learn about key issues pertaining to the fitness of operators and other alertness-sensitive transportation workers who may be at risk for or been diagnosed or treated for OSA

Acquire mode-specific approaches to OSA awareness, screening, diagnosis, treatment options, compliance and follow-up

Obtain practical ideas on workforce management of OSA, including hands-on experience with equipment, diagnostic and treatment techniques and best practices for working with specialists, contractors and suppliers in this field.

Receive a take-home resource toolkit with presentations, DVDs, reports and materials to help company management and employees address sleep apnea in the workplace

Interact with experts, colleagues, government and industry officials to get questions answered and learn practical approaches to solving the OSA problem.

Contribute to defining the needed research agenda for obstructive sleep apnea as it impacts each transportation mode

Information about the conference program, registration, sponsorship, exhibitor and advertising opportunities will be updated regularly on the conference website: www.samtc2011.org.

For more information, contact Event Director, Dave Buczek at: dave.buczek@dbainnovation.com and (703)861- 5332 or ASAA Executive Director, Ed Grandi at egrandi@sleepapnea.org or (202) 293-3650 x 4.