Fireside Chat with the Authors: Novel Sleep Phenotypic Profiles Associated With Incident Atrial Fibrillation in a Large Clinical Cohort

Name: Catherine Heinzinger, DO

Dr. Heinzinger is an Assistant Professor and Research Director at the Sleep Disorders Center at the Cleveland Clinic, specializing in the interplay between sleep disordered breathing and cardiovascular health, particularly atrial fibrillation. In addition to her research, Dr. Heinzinger is dedicated to mentoring trainees on projects related to sleep disordered breathing, heart failure, and adverse cardiovascular outcomes after bariatric surgery, fostering an environment of collaboration and discovery. With a patient-centered approach, Dr. Heinzinger has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications in her field. Outside of her professional commitments, she enjoys going to concerts, watching movies, and spending time with her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, reflecting her belief in maintaining a balanced life.

Name: Reena Mehra, MD

Dr. Mehra is a clinician scientist and trained epidemiologist dedicated to investigating sleep disorders and their impact on health and disease with a focus on cardiopulmonary disease via leveraging large NIH and clinical cohort datasets. She has extended this work to conduct translational science to characterize underlying pathophysiology and innovations in sleep apnea therapeutics. She is Division Head of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, tenured Professor of Medicine and A. Bruce Montgomery, MD, American Lung Association Endowed Chair in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Washington. She currently serves as Chair of the AASM Inpatient Sleep Medicine task force, Associate Editor of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and sole author of Up to Date: Obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease in adults for over 10 years. She has served as Chair of NIH Workshops and Chair of the 2022 AHA statement on Sleep Apnea and Cardiac Arrhythmia. She is ranked #10 of 62K worldwide as an apnea expert on Expertscape.com with over 200 publications (>26K citations) including in the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA journals, delivered >350 lectures including nationally and internationally and mentored more than 45 trainees.

Name: Colleen G. Lance, MD

Dr. Colleen G. Lance is a sleep medicine physician with > 22 years in the field. She has held roles as the Medical Director for sleep laboratories at institutions including the Memorial Herman Hospital System, University Hospitals, and the Cleveland Clinic, and Medical Director of PAP Therapies at Cleveland Clinic Home Care. She is currently the Chief Medical Officer of React Health. Her service has included work on the Payor Policy Review Committee and the Political Action Committee with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, as well as being the former president of the Texas Society of Sleep Professionals.