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Women in Sleep Congress 2026

Hilton Austin | Austin, Texas

May 15th - 16th, 2026

The Women in Sleep Congress 2026 will offer valuable insights into sex- and gender-specific sleep diagnostics, treatment approaches, and emerging research—while promoting collaboration and networking with leading experts in sleep and women’s health.

The Women in Sleep Congress 2026 is a two-day live educational event dedicated to improving the recognition, diagnosis, and management of sleep disorders in female patients. The program explores how sleep disorders present differently in women across key life stages, including adolescence, pregnancy, perimenopause, and post-menopause.

Through expert-led presentations, panel discussions, and real-world case studies, the congress will translate evidence into practical clinical strategies that can be applied immediately in practice.

Overview


Why focus on women in sleep medicine?

  • Sleep disorders in women are frequently underdiagnosed or mischaracterized

  • Hormonal transitions significantly influence sleep physiology and symptoms

  • Women often present with atypical features of common sleep disorders

  • Treatment decisions require consideration of reproductive and life-stage factors

Why Women in Sleep?


This congress is designed for healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with sleep disorders, including:

  • Sleep physicians and fellows

  • Neurologists

  • Nurse practitioners and physician associates

  • Sleep technologists and respiratory therapists

Discounted registration is available for fellows and allied health professionals.

Who should attend?

Agenda and faculty

The congress agenda brings together a multidisciplinary faculty of nationally recognized leaders in sleep medicine and women’s health.

Meeting co-chairs:

Dr Joyce Lee-Iannotti

Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ

Dr Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg

Millennium Physician Group, Fort Myers, FL

Agenda Overview:

  • 08:30–10:50 | Registration & Breakfast

    10:50 - 11:00 | Welcome & Introduction — Joyce Lee-Iannotti & Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg

    11:00–12:00 | Foundations: Hormones & Sleep

    • Review of the Reproductive Cycle — Eric Feinberg

    • What happens to hormones as we age? — Eric Feinberg

    • Sleep cycle differences between the sexes — Safia Khan

    12:00–12:30 | Industry Symposium (Hosted by Axsome Therapeutics)

    12:00–13:00 | Exhibition & Lunch

    13:00–15:00 | Adolescent Sleep

    • Overview of sleep disorders in the adolescent age — Madeleine Grigg-Damberger

    • Impacts of sleep on the adolescent brain — Madeleine Grigg-Damberger

    • Circadian Rhythm & School Start Times — Indira Gurubhagavatula

    • Faculty Discussion

    15:00–15:30 | Coffee Break & Exhibition

    15:30–17:30 | Sleep in the Reproductive Years

    • Common sleep disorders in pregnancy — Annise Wilson

    • Challenges in managing sleep disorders in the reproductive years — Annise Wilson

    • Managing Insomnia in the Reproductive Years — Meena Khan

    • Faculty Discussion

    17:30–Late | Industry Symposium (Hosted by Jazz Pharmaceuticals) & Dinner Reception

  • 08:00–08:30 | Breakfast

    08:30-9:00 | Wellness Session: Happiness in Healthcare: Yes it is Possible - Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg

    09:00-9:30 | Women in leadership session - Amy Hessler

    09:30–11:30 | Peri-Menopause | Coffee break 10:00 - 10:30

    • The Role of HRT in Sleep Disorders — Andrea Matsumura

    • Beyond HRT - Ways to manage sleep disorders through the peri-menopause — Andrea Matsumura

    • Faculty Discussion

    11:30–12:45 | Exhibition & Lunch

    12:45-13:30 | Communication with female sleep patient - Emma Cooksey

    13:30–16:00 | Post-Reproductive Years | Coffee break 14:30 - 15:00

    • Sleep Apnea in the Post-Reproductive Years — Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg

    • Ageing and sleep - Preventative brain health — Joyce Lee-Iannotti

    • Medication pitfalls in the post-reproductive years - Safia Khan

    • Faculty Discussion

    16:00–16:45 | Closing Plenary

    Future Directions — Joyce Lee-Iannotti & Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg

Venue

Hilton Austin
500 E 4th Street, Austin, TX

A modern downtown conference venue offering excellent accessibility, meeting facilities, and accommodation in the heart of Austin.

 

Commercial support

The Women in Sleep Congress offers a range of opportunities for commercial supporters, including industry symposia, exhibition space, and branding options throughout the meeting.