Note from the NetWork Chair 

While 2020 was a year on Zoom, 2021 promises to bring back more "in-person" activities. CHEST Annual Meeting 2021 will also be in person in Orlando, Florida, October 17-20. The conference has a hybrid format with in-person and recorded sessions. Session planning for CHEST 2021 was completed in early February, and the final schedule will soon be out. We have a great variety of sessions covering a diverse range of topics.

Many of you may be aware of the draft technology assessment report prepared by the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) at the request of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) entitled, “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).” CHEST collaborated with several sister societies in drafting a response to the report, as it has the potential to affect the care of our patients adversely.

Have you visited the Sleep Medicine NetWork page on the CHEST website recently? Visit to see infographics created by our Infographics Pilot Subcommittee; our featured lecture, The New Standard of Care for Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome, by Dr. Babak Mokhlesi; the latest webinars; and more.  

Sunita Kumar, MD, FCCP
Chair, Sleep Medicine NetWork

NetWork CHEST Physician article

Check out our NetWork’s latest article, “Time to move the dial: Sleep and burnout in health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” by steering committee member, Nancy Stewart, DO, MS, in the latest CHEST Physician^® issue.

Upcoming NetWork call

As a NetWork member, you're welcome to join your NetWork Steering Committee calls. If interested in joining an upcoming call, please contact Maggie Kosinski at mkosinski@chestnet.org and she will be happy to share access information.

• Wednesday, September 8, 3 pm CT

Get to know your steering committee members:

Caroline Okorie, MD, MPH  

Dr. Caroline Okorie is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary, Asthma and Sleep Medicine, at the Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. Okorie practices both sleep and pediatric pulmonary medicine and cares for a diverse group of patients at Stanford Children’s Health. Her patients include those with chronic lung disease, acute and critical respiratory illnesses, asthma, and the full spectrum of sleep disorders. Dr. Okorie’s clinical interests include management of sleep-disordered breathing in the pediatric bariatric population, sleep disorders in patients with chronic lung disease, and sleep disturbances in chronically hospitalized children. She also has a keen interest in navigating the sleep disorders of neurologically atypical pediatric patients.

Dr. Okorie is committed to medical education, and she currently serves as one of the Associate Program Directors for the Pediatrics Residency Program and regularly gives didactics to learners of all stages, from premedical students and medical students to residents and fellows. She is especially excited when teaching junior learners the impact of health literacy on patient outcomes and the importance of effective physician-patient communication. Dr. Okorie strives to facilitate an environment that allows trainees and colleagues to discover (or rediscover) the joy that can come from meaningful medical practice and connection with patients and families. Dr. Okorie first became a member of CHEST in 2019, and soon after, joined the Sleep Medicine NetWork at the recommendation of a colleague. She remains a grateful, active member, enjoying the opportunity for collaboration, learning, and patient advocacy.