Distinguished Achievement Award

The Australasian Sleep Association established the Australasian Sleep Association Distinguished Achievement Award in 2008. This award is designed to recognise, and honor exceptional achievements in the fields of sleep health and sleep science by ASA members. This award is presented by the Australasian Sleep Association at its annual scientific meeting.

It is awarded to an individual member who has either made: (i) a high impact, highly original and important contribution, or (ii) ongoing sustained, and significant contributions to the fields of sleep health and sleep science in Australasia and internationally.

These achievements may include, but are not limited to, research, education, policy development.

Distinguished Achievement Award Nomination form [PDF] - Members Only

Distinguished Achievement Award Nomination form [DOC] - Members Only

Worthy Recipients to date

2008: Professor Colin Sullivan Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW

A pioneer of the sleep field, with an extensive record of achievement in clinical and experimental research that pioneered the science of how sleep affects breathing. This fundamental work resulted in the invention of CPAP for treating Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, which is arguably the single most important milestone in the evolution of the sleep field into a clinical discipline.

2009: Professor John Wheatley

Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Westmead Hospital, NSW Professor of Medicine, in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney; Director of the Ludwig Engel Centre for Respiratory Research in the Westmead Millennium Institute, Director of the Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Westmead Hospital and a Consultant Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Physician at Westmead Hospital.

John Wheatley was nominated as the Distinguished Achiever in recognition of service to the ASA and sleep research and sleep medicine in Australia. This included a leadership role on ASA Executive and co-chairing Worldsleep07. John has made a significant contribution to the development of educational programs and training in the field of sleep medicine in Australia.

2010: Professor Ron Grunstein Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW

A pioneer in the development of Sleep Medicine as a Discipline of Internal Medicine in Australia, Ron Grunstein has contributed enormously to the local growth of the ASA as the professional society representing sleep medicine and research. He is Chief Investigator for the NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, and heads up the NHMRC Australian Sleep Health Clinical Trials Network, both of which have contributed substantially to the growth of sleep research in Australia. He is Director of the Woolcock Institute , Sleep and Circadian Group. Ron Grunstein has worked tirelessly to raise the international profile of sleep medicine and research in Australia as a co-chair of Worldsleep07, and his role as President of the World Federation of Sleep from 2007-2011.