About Us

World Sleep Day is an awareness activity of World Sleep Society, founded by World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) and World Sleep Federation (WSF).

Mission Statement
The fundamental mission of the World Sleep Society is to advance sleep health worldwide. World Sleep Society will fulfill this mission by promoting and encouraging education, research and patient care throughout the World, particularly in those parts of the world where the practice of sleep medicine is less developed. World Sleep Society will act as a bridge between different sleep societies and cultures, supporting and encouraging worldwide exchange of clinical information and scientific studies related to sleep medicine. World Sleep Society will seek to encourage development and exchange of information for world-wide and regional standards of practice for sleep medicine.

Goal and Purpose
The goal and purpose of the World Sleep Society is to advance knowledge about sleep, circadian rhythms, sleep health, and sleep disorders worldwide, especially in those parts of the world where this knowledge has not advanced sufficiently. This endeavor will promote clinical and scientific information for scientists, health care personnel, and the general public. The World Sleep Society will foster international exchanges among scientists, physicians, psychologists, nurses, physician assistants, technologists, and other medical and research personnel interested in the sleep field. In this manner it is expected that sleep science and medicine can advance for all populations to improve the quality of life of individuals throughout the world. The World Sleep Society will promote world-wide sleep health by advancing public education, supporting public policies related to sleep health, and supporting sleep research. World Sleep Society currently represents individual members, societies, and organizes the World Sleep Congress every other year.

For more information and inquires, please email the World Sleep Society’s administrative office at [email protected].

Learn about World Sleep Day history

Who created World Sleep Day?

The annual awareness event was started by a group of dedicated healthcare providers and members of the medical community working and studying in the area of sleep medicine and research. The goal of the first World Sleep Day was to bring together sleep healthcare providers to discuss and distribute sleep information around the world. The first co-chairs of World Sleep Day were Liborio Parrino, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology at Parma University, Italy and Antonio Culebras, MD, Professor of Neurology, Upstate Medical University, and Consultant, The Sleep Center, Community General Hospital, Syracuse, New York, USA.

Why was World Sleep Day created?

Time and time again, sleep medicine professionals and researchers came up against the belief that sleep was not important enough in personal health and well-being to be a priority. That coupled with society’s 24/7 flow, the founders of this awareness event aim to celebrate the importance of healthy sleep.

Who supports World Sleep Day?

World Sleep Day is hosted by World Sleep Society (WSS), a nonprofit based in the United States. Per the organizational bylaws, World Sleep Society does not support, recommend or endorse any products of services. The awareness event does accept corporate sponsorships to help support the cost to host the event, but World Sleep Society, the World Sleep Day Committee, or any person affiliated with WSS does not endorse or recommend commercial products, treatments, or companies.

What happens to funds raised by World Sleep Day?

Event and activities of World Sleep Day are free and open to the public. Companies who sponsor World Sleep Day provide funds to World Sleep Society to reimburse the costs the awareness day, including costs of press releases, website hosting and creation of educational content. Each year only a fraction of World Sleep Day’s cost is recouped through corporate sponsorships. Read more in our Frequently Asked Questions section about local/regional sponsors and local funds raised.

Can I use the World Sleep Day logo?

The logo can be used by official delegates in conjunction with an awareness activity. Companies and organizations must receive written consent before using our logo. The use of the words “World Sleep Day” is copyrighted with the United States Patent and Trademark Office serial number 85274932. Written permission is required to use the words “World Sleep Day” and/or logos of World Sleep Day and/or World Sleep Society.