The Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners (ASAP) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has elevated Andre Puleo to the role of Board Chair and Bridgette René McCullough to Puleo’s former role as Vice-Chair.

 

Andre Puleo, a seasoned sleep technologist with over 25 years as a clinician in sleep labs followed by business development experience in sleep health, brings a unique perspective as both a healthcare professional and a sleep apnea patient who has used his experience and technical expertise to support product innovation in the sleep health space. 

 

" I am deeply honored to have been elected as the Board Chair of the Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners,” Puleo said. “This opportunity allows me to contribute to a cause that is both meaningful and vital to so many. I am committed to serving our community with dedication and working collaboratively to advance our mission of improving awareness, support, and care for individuals affected by sleep apnea. Together, with the support of our dedicated board members, partners, and advocates, we can drive meaningful progress and positively impact countless lives. I look forward to the journey ahead with great enthusiasm and humility.”

 

Bridgette René McCullough, PhD, MSL, founder and CEO of ACIRAH Health, joins the executive committee, where her priorities include creating a better pathway for sleep apnea clinical trials. She has researched gender barriers to clinical trials and is committed to addressing healthcare disparities in women, particularly Black women, and to creating a new paradigm for clinical research for women. 

 

“The Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners has made tremendous strides since its founding in 2018 by patients for patients, and that patient-centered ethos remains at the heart of everything ASAP does,” McCullough said. “I’m familiar with the life of a sleep apnea patient from the experiences of my close family members who have had sleep apnea, and as a survivor of colorectal cancer, I understand the vital importance of the patient voice in driving change and innovation. I’m honored to accept this important role at ASAP as it continues its growth and energetic advocacy on behalf of patients.”  

 

The board leadership transition also pays tribute to outgoing Board Chair Kathy Page, a founding member of ASAP and longtime sleep apnea patient advocate. Page, an active patient representative in numerous national health initiatives, has been a pivotal force in raising awareness about sleep apnea, particularly for women. Among her many contributions to patient advocacy, Page participated in drafting “Sleep Apnea & Women” for the Society for Women’s Health Research and served two terms as a member of the Public Advisory Roundtable for the American Thoracic Society.

 

These leadership changes build on ASAP's ongoing objective to be the leading driving force in changing the current sleep apnea healthcare delivery model by ensuring that existing healthcare policies benefit patients and improve their health outcomes.