Over the weekend of March 9 – 10, 2018 the annual Sleep Disordered Breathing/Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symposium was hosted by the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Continuing Education (CE) Department. The event was a huge hit, with over 150 general dentists, orthodontists, pediatric dentists, and other healthcare providers in attendance at the Metcalf Trustee Center Trustee Ballroom located at One Silber Way, Boston from around the country. The two-day conference consisted of more than twelve presentations and panel discussions from leading clinical researchers and healthcare providers with evidence–based experience and information in the area of sleep disorders and sleep apnea.
The Course Directors for the Symposium were Dr. Melih Motro DDS, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics; Dr. Michael Platt, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; Dr. John Walker, DMD, MSc, Clinical Instructor, Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics; and Dr. Radhika Chigurupati, DMD, MS, Associate Professor and Director of Research, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter was in attendance once again this year as he also provided remarks welcoming the participants to the 2nd Annual Symposium and praising the Course Directors.
Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are often accompanied by several comorbidities. These comorbidities are part of the growing epidemic of Cardiomyopathy, Stroke, Obesity, Diabetes, ADHD, Headache, Pain, and Fibromyalgia. OSA not only decreases an individual’s quality of life, but can be life-threatening.
In children, obstructive sleep apnea can adversely affect both cognitive performance and physical development. This symposium brought together internationally recognized speakers from different medical and dental specialties, to “connect the dots” between the physiological, clinical, and treatment aspects of OSA in children and adults. The audience was able to participate in the interdisciplinary panel discussions with various experts.
The medical experts and keynote speakers at this year’s event were:
- Kevin Boyd, DDS, MS Pediatric Dentist
- Mary Burns, DMD, Orthodontist
- Orfeu Buxton, PhD, Neuroscientist
- Peter Catalano, MD, ENT, Tufts St. Elizabeth Medical Center
- Radhika Chigurupati, DMD, MS, Associate Professor and Research Director of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Boston University
- Marianna Evans, DMD, Orthodontist
- Amado Freire, MD, MPH
- Duane Grummons, DMD, MSD, Orthodontist
- Jessica Levi, MD, Pediatric ENT, Boston University
- Steven Olmos, DMD
- Judith Owens, MD, MPH
- Stephen Sheldon, DO, Professor of Pediatrics (Pulmonary Medicine) and Neurology
Photos from the symposium can be found on Flickr.