Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director, World Sleep Society In this podcast, Allan O'Bryan, Executive Director of World Sleep Society tells us about the workings of the association and the brain power behind it. O'Bryan also talks about their upcoming conference in Brazil and World Sleep Day. "World Sleep Society is a non profit, member based association representing clinicians, nurses, technicians healthcare focus in sleep medicine and sleep research, says O'Bryan. Our Board comes from around the world with a mission to advance sleep health worldwide, especially in regions where sleep medicine is less developed." O'Bryan mentions the following officers on the Board include, President: Birgit Högl (Austria), President-Elect: Phyllis C. Zee (US), Secretary: Fang Han (China), Treasurer: Maree Barnes (Australia), Past President: Charles Morin (Canada) To support the mission of World Sleep Society, every other year there is an educational conference held in a different location in the world. The next World Sleep Society conference is on September 10 - 15, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over 4,000 healthcare providers will attend the conference attend educational sessions, poster sessions, and visit exhibitors from pharmaceutical companies to homeopathic solutions to sleep. O'Bryan shared that other educational opportunities are available throughout the year including regional sleep focused conferences and educational videos from the last conference in Vancouver. O'Bryan and others at World Sleep Society were instrumental in creating World Sleep Day in 2007. It is a global awareness act that celebrates sleep and aims to help those with serious sleep problems. Celebrated on the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox of each year, this holiday has an annual 155 events held across the world and is participated by over 70 countries. "It is a celebration of sleep and a call to action, " says O'Bryan. "Some people come to work in pajamas while others challenge you to stay in bed for 24 hours. World Sleep Day is chaired by Liborio Parrino, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology at Parma University, Italy; with support from World Sleep Society’s staff and others." "To celebrate World Sleep Day on March 13, 2020, The Sleep Forum and World Sleep Society will be podcasting every week with renowned doctors about sleep conditions and also innovative entrepreneurs that have created non pharmaceutical sleep solutions, "said Marion of The Sleep Forum. If you or your organization would like to participate in World Sleep Day, please go to www.worldsleepday.org to apply to be a delegate or for more information. Or visit www.worldsleepsociety.org.