SomnusNooze
The Hypersomnia Foundation held our first #BeyondSleepySatellite event in Salt Lake City on March 4, 2023. This was the first in a series of one-day hybrid conferences being held throughout the U.S.
#BeyondSleepySatellite: Together in Salt Lake City featured keynote speaker Dr. Chris Hammond of the Ogden Clinic, Utah, who presented “Hypersomnia: Assessment and Management.” Dr. Chris Hammond is dual board-certified in Neurology and Sleep Medicine whose professional interests include sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy, multiple sclerosis, peripheral nerve diseases, and epilepsy. Dr. Hammond and his Sleep Lab are certified by the Accreditation Commission for Healthcare.
Additional speakers for this event included:
- Anjel Burgess, JD, who discussed “Idiopathic Hypersomnia and Social Security Disability: What You Need to Know.” Anjel is an attorney specializing in Social Security Disability Law for adults and children, Veterans Disability, and Guardianships. She is a member of the Hypersomnia Foundation Board of Directors and has been a featured speaker for several HF events, other organizations, support groups, and the local bar association.
- Rebecca King, who presented the “Game of Life.” Rebecca has been diagnosed with idiopathic hypersomnia/narcolepsy type 2. She is a member of the Hypersomnia Foundation Board of Directors and currently serves as the Board Secretary. Her main focus is advocating for hypersomnia research, access and affordability of medical care and prescription medications, and increasing the understanding of hypersomnias.
- Amy Desmarais shared “Living with Idiopathic Hypersomnia.” Amy is a long-time supporter of and volunteer for the Hypersomnia Foundation and currently serves as the organization’s Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer. She will talk about her experience of living with IH and successfully managing her professional, personal, and family life.
The day also include breakout sessions, ample Q&A, and a panel discussion that included Diana Kimmel, HF volunteer, founder of the Hypersomnia Alliance and an extraordinary patient advocate in the IH community, who co-organizes the popular “Snooze Cruise” retreats.
We thank our sponsors – Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Avadel Pharmaceuticals, Harmony Biosciences, Zevra Therapeutics and Centessa Pharmaceuticals – for making #BeyondSleepy Satellite: Together in Salt Lake City a great success!