At the end of May 2021, a cross-section of sleep professionals met for SomnoMed’s “SomSUMMIT ’21,” where SomnoMed previewed its “North Star” approach to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). That is, the company strives for a common, universal commitment to bring more patients into more successful OSA treatment, regardless of therapy. There are so many challenges from OSA screening to therapy in terms of access, education, and awareness, says SomnoMed EVP, Matt Conlon, in a Twitter video, “but with that North Star objective, everybody’s rolling their sleeves up.”

SomSUMMIT ’21 also served to cultivate and foster industry collaborations that will produce the research, education, awareness of, and pathways to oral appliance therapy as a primary solution to successful OSA treatment.

“Our vision and mission is very patient-centric. We really care about an effective, long-term treatment for your patients,” said SomnoMed Global CEO Neil Verdal-Austin virtually at the summit. “We’re here to talk about building this collaborative ecosystem of treatment so that, together, we treat more patients more successfully. We’re looking at a long-term chronic disease, so why aren’t we looking at a long-term quality treatment?”

David M. Rapoport, MD, stated virtually at the summit, “There is a real need for us to firm up the field and, in particular, to look at other treatments that may be better adhered to than CPAP.”

SomSUMMIT ’21 showcased collaborations between physicians, dentists, and durable medical equipment companies. “The gold standard is unique to each patient,” says sleep medicine physician Kathy Wilson, MD. “We must find ways to work across professions and specialties to get each patient the right therapy, regardless of their point of care.”

Conlon adds, “SomSUMMIT ’21 is only the beginning. We’re looking forward to building upon the enthusiastic determination generated here to achieve the ‘North Star’ objective. At SomSUMMIT ’22, we’ll be showcasing exceptional demonstrations of collaborations that put oral appliance therapy in its appropriate, central position within the OSA treatment ecosystem.”