Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner

The Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner is held each fall to raise awareness and to focus support for the educational mission of the Division of Sleep Medicine. Each year, this event has attracted support from a growing alliance of advocates, sponsors and faculty.

On Thursday, October 8, 2009, the Division held its eighth annual Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner in the Koch Gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Details on participation in this event can be found on the sponsorship page.  For further information, please contact Ms. Casey Bauer at 617-998-8821, or via E-mail at sleep_medicine@hms.harvard.edu.

Note regarding COI guidelines: Massachusetts has recently enacted legislation which in many instances prohibits pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers from making provisions for or payment for meals for health care practitioners licensed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Chapter 111N and implementing regulations).  View the Division of Sleep Medicine's policy statements in response to this legislation.

2009 Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner
Donor recognition and images
October 8, 2009 saw a full house in the magnificent the Museum of Fine Arts’ Koch Gallery, and a slate of luminary guest speakers describing the launch of a bold and exciting new Program in Sleep and Cardiovascular Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Keynote speaker Dr. Susan Redline presented a convincing argument for the importance of  treatment of sleep disordered breathing for a range of cardiovascular health issues. Her presence with us for the evening marked the beginning of the realization of many years’ effort to create a world-class research program in this area of sleep at Harvard.

2008 Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner
Donor recognition and images
On October 2, 2008, we were pleased to welcome Lee Marshall Nadler, MD, Harvard Medical School Dean for Clinical and Translational Research, who gave welcoming remarks and spoke to us about the role of sleep research in the new Harvard Clinical Translational Science Center. Our Keynote Speaker for the evening, Robert W. McCarley, MD, Harvard Medical School Professor of Psychiatry, revealed "Why we get sleepy after being awake: On the trail of the brain elixir of sleep."

2007 Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner
Donor recognition and images
On October 16, 2007, Editor-in-Chief Stuart F. Quan, MD provided guests with a sneak preview of the first module of the Division of Sleep Medicine's Sleep and Health Education Program. Other highlights of the evening included an inspirational welcome speech by Jeffrey S. Flier, MD, Dean of Harvard Medical School, and the participation of two astronauts joining us from NASA. Captain Michael E. Lopez-Alegria and Commander Sunita L. Williams shared stories of sleep research, daily life and the difficulty of getting a good night's rest on space missions with guests, stimulating questions from scientists and non-scientists alike.

2006 Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner
Donor recognition and images
The Division of Sleep Medicine held its fifth annual Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner on October 5, 2006, at which Massachusetts Senator Richard T. Moore made the keynote address: "Drowsy Driving - There Ought to be a Law!", describing his efforts to introduce drowsy driving legislation in Massachusetts.

2005 Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner
Donor recognition and images
On September 29, 2005, at the fourth annual Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner, the Division of Sleep Medicine announced the news of its Sleep and Health Education Program, to be developed in partnership with WGBH Educational Foundation. Harvard Medical School Dean of Resource Development, Mr. Jeffrey Newton gave the welcome address, and Clifford B. Saper, MD, PhD presented a compelling argument for the importance of sleep.

2004 Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner
Donor recognition and images
September 20, 2004 was the date both of the 2004 Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner, and of the Installation Ceremony for the newly established Baldino and McGinnis Professorships in Sleep Medicine. Along with the Farrell Professorship in Sleep Medicine, these were the first of their kind, and established sleep firmly in the mainstream of academic medicine. Dr. Joseph B. Martin, Dean of Harvard Medical School once again gave the welcome address for the third annual Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner, and Robert Stickgold, PhD presented the vital role of sleep and dreams in learning and memory.

2003 Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner
Donor recognition and images
The 2003 Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner directed attention to the widespread problem of sleep-disordered breathing (sleep apnea), and the health consequences of this debilitating condition. Dr. Joseph B. Martin, Harvard Medical School Dean, made the welcome address, and David P. White, MD gave an engaging presentation on the problem of sleep disordered breathing.

2002 Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner
Donor recognition and images
The first Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner was held on October 10, 2002, and focused attention on the health and safety issues surrounding the work hours of medical interns and residents. Funds raised through this event enabled the Division to extend the scope of the then-ongoing study of the effect of the extended work schedules of medical interns and residents on their health and safety, and that of their patients.