Thrive with California Sleep Society membership collaboration or simply Survive
19th Annual Educational Symposium
September 18-19, 2026 – Flamingo Resort & Spa, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, CA
Thank you to Elsevier, who has and continues to generously donate text books to CSS to raffle at the Symposiums.
Message from the CSS President
It is an exciting time to be in sleep medicine. As I write this, SLEEP 2026 in Baltimore is just around the corner, the landmark 40th annual meeting of the APSS that will bring together thousands of researchers, clinicians, and innovators to explore the frontiers of sleep and circadian science. That kind of momentum is a reminder of why we chose this field, and it sets the stage perfectly for what we have in store right here at home in California this fall: the 19th Annual Symposium of the California Sleep Society, taking place at the Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa, September 17 through 19, 2026.
Nineteen years is not a small thing. It represents nearly two decades of the California Sleep Society living out its mission as the voice of sleep professionals in this state, building community, and delivering education that is genuinely relevant to the way we practice. I have had the privilege of attending many of these symposia, and I can say without hesitation that what we have planned for this year’s meeting is among the strongest programs we have ever put together. The speaker lineup is exceptional and the topics are timely.
The field of sleep medicine is undergoing a transformative evolution, driven by the rapid integration of artificial intelligence, disease-targeted pharmacotherapy, and wearable technology. These developments are reshaping how we approach conditions like narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea, while the boundaries of what we can detect, track, and treat continue to expand in ways that were unimaginable even a decade ago. Our symposium program is built around this moment, bringing you the clinicians, researchers, and innovators who are defining what comes next.
The 19th annual CSS symposium is shaping up to be something truly memorable, and I hope to see each and every one of you in Santa Rosa this September.
With gratitude and excitement,
Sam A. Kashani, MD
President, California Sleep Society (CSS)
Why Volunteer with the California Sleep Society?
In their study of why people volunteer to clean beaches, the authors identified several themes for why people volunteer. These are, in order of importance, environmental values, recreation, social interaction, and career and personal growth. While not connected to sleep, we can relate to some of the themes regarding being a volunteer. Patient care values, connect with others (recreation), social interaction with others with similar interests, and not in the least, career and personal growth within the field.
Volunteering has always been a big part of my professional life. I would like to share a bit of my journey. When I started working in the sleep world, it was so exciting to meet and volunteer alongside some of the technologists who had been instrumental in developing the field. From being an examiner (when we did on-site) to the exam development committee, secretary of the then Association of Polysomnographic Technologists (APT), and helping with the creation of the Clinical Sleep Education program through the BRPT, and subsequent participation in the development of the CCSH credential exam, these experiences have enriched my life in so many ways.
Running for office with the California Sleep Society, being elected, and then assuming the President-Elect role has been the capstone of my volunteering. Learning new skills and meeting lifelong friends has been one of the best experiences of my life. And a bonus, in a field that I am passionate about. Does it require a lot of time, effort and commitment? Yes, all of them, but all worth it.
Now it’s time for sleep professionals to volunteer for the CSS. We have many opportunities, including working on social media, helping with the annual meeting, and writing for the newsletter. Volunteering in a professional society can be very rewarding as noted above, a good place to start is at the state level. Come to the annual CSS symposium and meet the current board members on Thursday night. It’s a good time and opportunity to explore what we can do together on the CSS.
Although not in the field of sleep, according to DiMarino[1], she sums her experiences below “Lessons Learned-Growth Through Service”
Networking opportunities with colleagues, mentors, and collaborators worldwide.
Leadership experience through committees, technical groups, and event organization.
Communication and teamwork skills developed across cultures and disciplines.
Visibility within the power electronics community, leading to new opportunities, collaborations, and recognition.
Mentorship and advocacy that helped me navigate key career decisions and challenges.
A sense of community and purpose in giving back to the field I care about.
I look forward to the coming year and working with you. Next year is the 20th anniversary of the CSS. Hoping to plan something special! Come along for the ride.
Thank you,
Robyn Woidtke
President – Elect, California Sleep Society (CSS)
[1] https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/11322630
Membership Benefits include:
- Education events in sleep medicine
- Contact listings with other sleep professionals
- Local networking opportunities
- Shared insights into sleep legislation and legislative advocacy
- CSS Newsletter and opinion pieces
- Discount on CSS annual meeting
- Ability to place ads or publish articles in Newsletter
- Access to the employment job board
Newsletter Contributions
If you would like to contribute a sleep-based feature article, we would love to hear from you. Email us at casleepsociety@gmail.com.
The Frontline Ambassadors of Sleep Medicine: Navigating Technology and Patient Care
By: Khem Ballaho, MBA, RPSGT
For decades, the role of the sleep technologist has been closely associated with two core responsibilities: patient setup and study scoring.
While these remain foundational skills, modern sleep medicine is rapidly evolving—and with it, the expectations placed on today’s Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (RPSGTs). The technologist of today is no longer just a recorder of data, but an active clinical contributor, a problem-solver, and an essential bridge between raw physiologic signals and meaningful patient outcomes.
In the traditional model, technologists were often viewed as operating behind the scenes—hooking up patients, ensuring signal quality, and scoring studies after the fact. However, as sleep disorders become more complex and patient populations more diverse, real-time clinical decision-making has become a critical component of the technologist’s role. During overnight studies, technologists are constantly interpreting evolving physiologic patterns, adjusting pressures, identifying abnormal respiratory events, and responding to patient needs as they arise. These decisions made moment by moment directly influence the accuracy of diagnosis and the effectiveness of therapy.
About Khemar Ballaho, MBA, RPSGT
Mustapha “Khem” Ballaho is a registered sleep technologist since 06/2003. He graduated from the U.S. Navy Schoolhouse of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland as an Electroneurodiagnostics Tech in April 2000, where he first learned to perform polysomnograms.
Khem has been a sleep tech, lab manager, clinical specialist, educator, lab owner and runs a sleep tech school (SleepA2Z in the Philippines) with students from various countries as well as an Executive Member of a non-profit organization (NAPSS – Network of Asia Pacific Sleep Specialists) that organizes sleep conferences all throughout Southeast Asian regions and Hawaii.
With an undergrad degree in healthcare administration and a master’s in business, he has technical, clinical, and business perspectives in sleep.
Currently, he manages the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of Southern California.
Enhancing CPAP Adherence: A Clinical and Behavioral Perspective for Practice
By: Sue Zafarlotfi, Ph.D., NBCFCH
Introduction
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy remains the gold standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), particularly for moderate to severe disease. CPAP has consistently demonstrated efficacy in reducing apneic events, improving daytime functioning, decreasing excessive daytime sleepiness, and reducing cardiovascular and metabolic risks associated with untreated OSA. Despite its well-established therapeutic efficacy, adherence to CPAP therapy remains one of the greatest challenges in sleep medicine, with approximately 30–50% of patients demonstrating partial or complete noncompliance.
About Sue Zafarlotfi, Ph.D., NBCFCH
Dr. Sue Zafarlotfi is a trained behavioral health clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of a wide range of mental health and behavioral health disorders, including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, insomnia, and trauma. She is certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based treatments for adolescent, adult, and geriatric populations. Dr. Zafarlotfi also integrates behavioral sleep medicine approaches and clinical hypnotherapy into her work to support emotional well-being, sleep health, and overall quality of life. In addition, she has assisted many patients with CPAP desensitization and behavioral adherence strategies to support treatment compliance and adjustment to therapy.