Media contact: Savannah Koplon
S. Justin Thomas, Ph.DThe Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine has awarded the Arthur J. Spielman Early Career Distinguished Achievement Award to S. Justin Thomas, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine.
This award recognizes an early career individual who has made significant scientific and/or clinical contributions to behavioral sleep medicine as exemplified by innovations in service delivery, dissemination and public policy. The Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine is an international organization whose mission is to set standards and promote excellence in behavioral sleep medicine health care, education and research.
Thomas’ research is focused on identifying disparities in sleep/circadian rhythms and health outcomes including hypertension, pain, and substance use/abuse, as well as ways to address these disparities.
“Receiving the Arthur J. Spielman Early Career Distinguished Achievement Award not only is an honor for me, personally, but speaks to the exceptional mentorship and support provided by my colleagues, the Department of Psychiatry, the UAB Sleep/Wake Disorders Center and the Hypertension UWRIC, among many others,” Thomas said. “This success doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It is a reflection of the tremendous collaborative opportunities, mentorship and support available to junior faculty at UAB.”
| “This award is a reflection of the tremendous collaborative opportunities, mentorship and support available to junior faculty at UAB,” Thomas said. |
Thomas is eager to continue work in this area to decrease disease burden and reduce health disparities. He is passionate about training the next generation of sleep medicine clinicians, and the award motivates him to continue this clinical and research work for the betterment of UAB and its surrounding communities.
The nomination committee is composed of the past three winners of the award.