Delegate: Dr. Maria Cecilia Lopes MD, PhD
Delegate Short Bio: Neuropediatrician and specialist in Pediatric Sleep Medicine; Sleep Medicine Physician at the Supplementary Health Department of the Institute for Children and Adolescents – Hospital das Clínicas – Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo; Director – Southeast Regional Capital – São Paulo of the Brazilian Academy of Sleep Medicine. Graduated in Medicine in 1996 from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ); Medical Residency in Pediatrics and Neuropediatrics at the Paulista School of Medicine of the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp/EPM); Lato Sensu Specialization in Sleep Medicine from Unifesp/EPM; Doctorate in Sciences in the area of Sleep Medicine and Biology in 2005 from Unifesp; Internship in Sleep Medicine at Stanford University (2004-2005), under the supervision of Prof. Christian Guilleminault, and at the Sleep Institute of the Department of Psychobiology of Unifesp/EPM; Awarded the Young Investigator Pediatrics Section Award and the Young Investigator Honorable Mention Award by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in 2005 and 2006; currently a research physician associated with the Brazilian Sleep Academy, World Sleep Society, and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, primarily focusing on the following topics: sleep instability and fragmentation in children and adolescents; author of the books: “Adolescent Sleep” 1st edition, Atheneu Publisher – 2023, “Sleep and Behavior” 1st edition – 2018, Atheneu Publisher, and “Sleep and Behavior in Childhood and Adolescence” 2nd edition – 2014, Segmentofarma Publisher; author of several scientific articles and book chapters in the field of Sleep Medicine; Medical research associate at the Laboratory of Evolutionary Systems and Biomedical Engineering of the Institute of Systems and Robotics in Lisbon, Portugal, and executing a research project in the area of sleep and child psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry of the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo and the Children’s Institute of the Hospital das Clínicas of FMUSP.
Scope of Activity: Individual activity
Activity: World Sleep Day is a global call to action. An opportunity to stand alongside thousands of sleep health professionals and advocates, united by a shared mission: to elevate sleep as a fundamental pillar of health.
This program was inspired by the 2026 World Sleep Day campaign theme, “Sleep Well, Live Better.” Its central objective was to position sleep as a priority for the mental health of children and adolescents, recognizing schools as both sensitive observatories (“sensors”) and essential platforms for psychoeducational interventions aimed at promoting healthy sleep in the pediatric population.
Brazil has a population of approximately 212 million people, of whom 53.8 million are under 18 years of age. Globally, adolescents represent approximately 16–28% of the population, with the vast majority living in developing countries. This number is projected to increase by 7% by 2030, reaching nearly 1.3 billion individuals. Although this generation is considered the most educated and urbanized, it faces substantial challenges, including unemployment, social and gender inequalities, and limited access to education, particularly in contexts of vulnerability and conflict.
Within this scenario, bringing sleep into the school environment represents a strategic and scalable opportunity to improve lifelong sleep health. The initiative aligns with the broader understanding of sleep as a fundamental biological need and a public health priority that should be integrated across all sectors of society.
The theme “Sleep Well, Live Better” was incorporated into activities conducted during the World Sleep Day week (March 13, 2026), reinforcing the importance of sleep health promotion in educational settings. Despite its essential role, sleep health remains unevenly distributed across populations, contributing to additional burdens and reinforcing existing health inequities.
World Sleep Day provides a unique opportunity to mobilize professionals and advocates worldwide. Collective action amplifies impact, generating outcomes greater than the sum of individual efforts. By promoting sleep health among students, this initiative contributes to improvements in learning, quality of life, and mental health within school communities.
This action was officially disseminated through the Brazilian Sleep Association (Academia Brasileira do Sono – ABS) and the World Sleep Society platforms.
Location: Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Date of Activity: 13/03/2026
