Prof. dedicates life to sleep study

The University's Director for the Center of Sleep and Respiratory Neurology has received the top service award for sleep research. Allan Pack, professor of medicine and psychiatry, was awarded the 1996 Nathaniel Kleitman Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his outstanding service in the field of sleep disorders medicine. He was nominated for the prestigious award by Associate Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry David Dinges. "The award reflects that Allan has led scientists and doctors in this field while devoting extended hours to increasing driving safety and other problems," Dinges said. "It is one of the highest honors in the field. Penn should be proud to have him." Pack dedicated the award to his son who worked with him for several years with the National Sleep Foundation. The pair have been educating college students of the dangers of driving while drowsy. His son was involved in a driving accident as a result of sleepiness. The incident inspired Pack to begin educating the public. "This just goes to show you how people can turn a bad experience into something that is very beneficial," Dinges said. "I think what Allan did was very appropriate." Directing a multi-disciplinary research and clinical program in sleep and related disorders, much of Pack's research focuses on elucidating the pathogenesis and consequences of obstructive sleep apnea. For the past two years, Pack served as medical director and interim executive director of the National Sleep Foundation. During his tenure in this position, the Foundation moved to Washington, DC and developed the following programs -- Drive Alert?Arrive Alive; Towards the Cause of Narcolepsy; Sleep and the Traveler; and Sleep and Pain. During his career, Pack published more than 130 original papers and edited longer works. He is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the National Cancer Center on Sleep Disorder Research. Pack obtained his MBChB, equivalent to an MD, from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1967 and his PhD from the same university in 1976. He completed his postdoctoral training in pulmonology and internal medicine in Glasgow where he was a Wellcome Research Fellow in the Centre for Respiratory in the Royal Infirmary. "Allan was very excited and honored concerning the award," said the Medical Director of the Sleep Center Richard Schwab. "He is extremely dedicated to his work."