Officers
Brian Robertson, MD
Dennis J. Stiles, DDS
Brian Robertson, MD
President
Dr. Robertson is the Assistant Program Director for the Walter Reed Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program. He is an Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. His primary specialty training was in Pediatrics. He has practiced as a flight surgeon, general pediatrician, allergist/immunologist, and
President
Dr. Robertson is the Assistant Program Director for the Walter Reed Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program. He is an Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. His primary specialty training was in Pediatrics. He has practiced as a flight surgeon, general pediatrician, allergist/immunologist, and as a sleep medicine physician during his career in the Army. As an Army flight surgeon trained in sleep medicine, he has consulted on sleep medicine policy for military aviation. He is co-chair for the AASM Pediatric Inter-Scorer Reliability Program. He is the former Chief of the Walter Reed Sleep Disorders Center. Currently, he serves as the Allergy/Immunology Consultant to the Army Surgeon General and is the Chief of the Walter Reed Allergy/Immunology Service.
Dr. Robertson’s research interests are in the intersection of allergy/immunology and sleep medicine, focusing on how allergic diseases affect sleep and the immunologic effects of sleep. He is a speaker for the Start School Later advocacy group. He is on the Respiratory and Sleep-related Breathing Disorders Committee and is in the House of Delegates for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
Dr. Robertson is married and has 3 sons. He enjoys fishing with them, bicycling whenever possible and especially with his sons, and being a Cub Scout Adult Leader.
Jennifer Y. So, MD
Dennis J. Stiles, DDS
Brian Robertson, MD
President-Elect
Dr. Jennifer So is currently an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland school of medicine and current medical director of the University of Maryland Sleep Laboratory. She received her undergraduate degree with summa cum laude at the University of Pennsylvania, medical degree from the University of Roc
President-Elect
Dr. Jennifer So is currently an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland school of medicine and current medical director of the University of Maryland Sleep Laboratory. She received her undergraduate degree with summa cum laude at the University of Pennsylvania, medical degree from the University of Rochester, and has completed Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Critical Care fellowship at Temple University, followed by Sleep Medicine fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. As a medical director at the University of Maryland sleep lab, Dr. So has established Inspire program, transitioned the lab from paper to electronic operation utilizing epic and somnoware, broadened lab’s complex titration capabilities and provided sleep education to the community and trainees. Dr. So is actively involved with the AASM and has served in their COVID-19 task force and scoring manual committees. She has also published many journal articles and book chapters in COPD and sleep, and with clinical interest in non-invasive ventilation and sleep in end stage lung disease. Dr. So is very excited to be joining the board at MDSS and working with the sleep community in Maryland.
Dennis J. Stiles, DDS
Dennis J. Stiles, DDS
Dennis J. Stiles, DDS
Immediate Past President
Dr. Dennis Stiles, a native of Amherst, Massachusetts, has called upper Montgomery County home since 1986. Dr. Stiles is currently a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the Maryland Sleep Society, and the American Ac
Immediate Past President
Dr. Dennis Stiles, a native of Amherst, Massachusetts, has called upper Montgomery County home since 1986. Dr. Stiles is currently a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the Maryland Sleep Society, and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and has received fellowship in the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Academy of General Dentistry. In 2017, he achieved Diplomate status in the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine.
Dr. Stiles has served as president of the American Prosthodontic Society (in 2006) and currently is serving as president of the American Prosthodontic Foundation. In 2009, he was appointed to the dean’s faculty at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, where he continues to offer instruction in occlusion, comprehensive care, and sleep medicine to AEGD residents. In 2019, Dr. Stiles was elected to serve a second three-year term as a board member of the L.D. Pankey Institute located in Key Biscayne Florida.
Emily Evans, RPSGT, RST
Montserrat Diaz-Abad, MD
Montserrat Diaz-Abad, MD
Secretary
Emily Evans has been working in the field of sleep medicine since 2008. Currently, she works as a technologist providing clinical support to sleep physicians in the Baltimore area.
Montserrat Diaz-Abad, MD
Montserrat Diaz-Abad, MD
Montserrat Diaz-Abad, MD
Treasurer
Originally from Dominican Republic where she obtained her medical degree, Dr. Diaz did her internal medicine residency and fellowship training in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Upon completion, she joined the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine
Treasurer
Originally from Dominican Republic where she obtained her medical degree, Dr. Diaz did her internal medicine residency and fellowship training in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Upon completion, she joined the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, where she is an Assistant Professor of Medicine. Dr. Diaz has a major interest in sleep education and became director of the sleep medicine fellowship training program at the University of Maryland, where she mentor sleep fellows during their fellowship year.
Following her interest in sleep education, Dr. Diaz also organized and is course director of the Maryland Sleep Boot Camp, which provides since 2013 an annual two-day intensive core lecture series course attended by the sleep medicine fellows of the Baltimore/DC area programs, along with other local health professionals interested in the field.
Dr. Diaz in interested in all aspects of sleep medicine. Of particular interest is the non invasive ventilatory management of sleep hypoventilation and chronic respiratory failure in general, and in neuromuscular patients in particular. As co-director of the Maryland ALS Center of Excellence she also studies and manages sleep disorders in this population of patients.
Dr. Diaz’s hobbies include reading and personal finance.
Board Members
Stephanie Dennison, DDS, FAGD, AADSM
Stephanie Dennison, DDS, FAGD, AADSM
Stephanie Dennison, DDS, FAGD, AADSM
Dr. Dennison is Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Comprehensive Dentistry Department. Her primary specialty training is in general dentistry. Dr. Dennison pursued her training in dental sleep medicine via SPEAR Education’s Airway Prosthodontics intensive as well as the American Academy of De
Dr. Dennison is Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Comprehensive Dentistry Department. Her primary specialty training is in general dentistry. Dr. Dennison pursued her training in dental sleep medicine via SPEAR Education’s Airway Prosthodontics intensive as well as the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine’s Mastery program. She is currently an AADSM Qualified Dentist and a Diplomate candidate for the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine.
Dr. Dennison practiced comprehensive general dentistry prior to transitioning to academia. In her current position at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, her primary roles include teaching clinical general dentistry to pre-doctoral students, directing a dental treatment planning course, lecturing on dental sleep medicine in various pre-doctoral and post-graduate venues, and providing general and dental sleep medicine services in the UMSOD Faculty Practice.
Dr. Dennison’s research interests include pre-doctoral and post-graduate education in dental sleep medicine, the interprofessional management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea, pre-doctoral interprofessional education in sleep medicine, and the comparison of OSA treatment modalities.
Dr. Dennison is married and has 1 son. She enjoys traveling, reading, Baltimore sports, and spending time with friends and family.
Maria Cecilia Melendres, MD
Stephanie Dennison, DDS, FAGD, AADSM
Stephanie Dennison, DDS, FAGD, AADSM
Dr. Cecilia Melendres obtained her medical degree from the University of the Philippines. She then completed a pediatric residency and a pediatric pulmonary fellowship at Johns Hopkins. Following completion of her training, Dr. Melendres spent several years at the University of Maryland, where she served as Section Director of the Pedia
Dr. Cecilia Melendres obtained her medical degree from the University of the Philippines. She then completed a pediatric residency and a pediatric pulmonary fellowship at Johns Hopkins. Following completion of her training, Dr. Melendres spent several years at the University of Maryland, where she served as Section Director of the Pediatric Sleep Laboratory and Director of the Pediatric Sleep Clinic, before returning to Johns Hopkins.
Dr. Melendres is currently an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Associate Medical Director of the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Sleep Center. Her clinical work focuses on the management of complex sleep disorders in children, including sleep-disordered breathing, narcolepsy, and insomnia. She has a particular interest in children at high risk for persistent obstructive sleep apnea following surgical therapy, including those with chromosomal disorders, obesity, and neuromuscular disorders. Dr. Melendres is also actively involved in the training and education of future sleep physicians. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the piano and spending time with and traveling with her three sons.
Rachel Newman Waddy MEd, BS, RPSGT
Stephanie Dennison, DDS, FAGD, AADSM
Rachel Newman Waddy MEd, BS, RPSGT
Aruna Rao, MD
Jessica L Schmidt MA, RPSGT, RST
Rachel Newman Waddy MEd, BS, RPSGT
Jessica L Schmidt MA, RPSGT, RST
Jessica L Schmidt MA, RPSGT, RST
Jessica L Schmidt MA, RPSGT, RST
Jessica Schmidt, RPSGT, CCSH, FACHE, was one of the original founding members of the Maryland Sleep Society and served as the first President from 2011-2013. She went on to serve on the board of the BRPT (Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists), including serving a term as President. She also established and directed the first
Jessica Schmidt, RPSGT, CCSH, FACHE, was one of the original founding members of the Maryland Sleep Society and served as the first President from 2011-2013. She went on to serve on the board of the BRPT (Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists), including serving a term as President. She also established and directed the first CAAHEP-accredited sleep technology training program in Maryland.
Ms. Schmidt currently serves as Senior Operations Director at MedStar Health. She remains active in the sleep field practicing as a Sleep Coach through Integrative Alchemists, a boutique telehealth business she co-founded. Ms. Schmidt has rejoined the board hoping to impart her historic memory of the evolution of the field in Maryland, as well as to continue to advance the career opportunities available to sleep technologists, and to promote a coaching approach to supporting certain patients.
Jennifer Slowik, DO
Jessica L Schmidt MA, RPSGT, RST
Jessica L Schmidt MA, RPSGT, RST
Dr. Slowik entered active duty Army service following medical school. She completed her residency training at Martin Army Community Hospital in Columbus, GA and fellowship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Over the years she has served as both residency and fellowship faculty, but now devotes her time exclus
Dr. Slowik entered active duty Army service following medical school. She completed her residency training at Martin Army Community Hospital in Columbus, GA and fellowship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Over the years she has served as both residency and fellowship faculty, but now devotes her time exclusively to patient care in Frederick, MD. Special interests include management of sleep disorders in PTSD and improving PAP and OSA treatment tolerance.
Connie L. Thomas, MD, DFAPA
Connie L. Thomas, MD, DFAPA
Connie L. Thomas, MD, DFAPA
Connie L. Thomas, MD, DFAPA
Connie L. Thomas, MD, DFAPA
Dr. Connie Thomas is the Associate Director for the Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. She is passionate about research on topics of sleep, psychological health, and human performance. She is an Associate Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in
Dr. Connie Thomas is the Associate Director for the Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. She is passionate about research on topics of sleep, psychological health, and human performance. She is an Associate Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD and is an active mentor and faculty member of the Sleep Medicine Fellowship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Her primary practice is in Psychiatry, and she is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). She was elected for a 3-year term as an APA Assembly Representative for the Society of Uniformed Services Psychiatrists district branch. Dr. Thomas continues to serve in the U.S. Army where she holds the AMEDD A proficiency designator for exceptional professional ability and is the Sleep Medicine Deputy Consultant to the Army Surgeon General. Her free time is spent with her family of 7, in the outdoors, or running.