The American Academy of Sleep Medicine installs its new board of directors president to lead advocacy and clinical practice initiatives for its 9,500 members.

Key takeaways:

• The AASM installed a new president of its board of directors during the SLEEP 2026 annual meeting in Baltimore.
• The new leader brings clinical experience in coding, reimbursement, and non-academic practice to the role.
• Priorities for the upcoming term include advocating for policies that value sleep care and advancing practical solutions to improve patient access and outcomes.

Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg, MD, FAASM, FAAN, became president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) board of directors during SLEEP 2026 in Baltimore.

Focused on advancing patient-centered, member-driven priorities in support of the AASM strategic plan, Abbasi-Feinberg will champion strategies that are adaptable, inclusive, and grounded in evidence-based innovation to strengthen clinical practice and enhance patient outcomes. In her role, she will represent the organization’s 9,500 members, spanning physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals, to drive collaboration and advance key initiatives across the field of sleep medicine.

“I have a strong interest in advocating for practical changes and advancements that will enable sleep clinicians in diverse settings to thrive and deliver high-quality care,” says Abbasi-Feinberg, president of the AASM board of directors, in a release. “Sleep and circadian care are fundamental to health care, so sleep clinicians have a vital role to play in our health care system. We need to ensure that health care policies and regulations value sleep care and empower sleep clinicians to excel in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.”

Abbasi-Feinberg brings a depth of institutional leadership to the role, having served on the AASM board of directors since June 2019. Her involvement with the AASM includes prior service as chair of both the Coding and Compliance Committee and the Alternative Payment Models Task Force. She has also served as the AASM advisor to the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Scale Update Committee, and she is recognized as a national expert on coding and reimbursement in the field of sleep medicine.

“Having spent my career practicing sleep medicine in a non-academic setting, I understand the real-world challenges our members face every day. I am committed to advancing practical, patient-focused solutions that improve access to care and outcomes,” says Abbasi-Feinberg in a release.

Based in Fort Myers, Fla, Abbasi-Feinberg serves as medical director of sleep medicine at Millennium Physician Group. A board-certified sleep medicine physician and neurologist, she is widely recognized by both peers and patients for her clinical excellence. She received her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and completed her neurology residency and post-doctoral fellowship in EEG at the University of Maryland Medical System. With more than two decades of experience, she remains focused on advancing the field of sleep medicine and improving patient outcomes.

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