Dr. Michael Grandner Receives Mid-Career Scientific Award
Michael Grandner, PhD, MTR, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson and director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, received the Richard Bootzin Mid-Career Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award from the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine.
The award is presented to a member who has made significant, sustained scientific contributions to the behavioral sleep medicine community via publications, has evidence of grant support as a principal investigator, and has demonstrated excellence in research mentoring trainees.
Michael Grandner, PhD, MTR
“This award is especially meaningful for several reasons,” Dr. Grandner said. “First, this award is the highest honor given by the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine for mid-career scientists. Second, the award is named for Dr. Bootzin, who was a pioneer in the field of behavioral sleep medicine and was faculty at the University of Arizona for over 40 years. Not only did Dr. Bootzin start the Insomnia Clinic, which is now the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic, which I direct, but my first mentor in sleep, Michael Perlis, PhD, was Dr. Bootzin’s graduate student here in Tucson. So, Dr. Bootzin was always a very special person to me.”
Dr. Grandner was nominated for the award by his former mentor and current collaborator Dr. Perlis, who is now an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and director of that university’s Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program.
“Dr. Grandner is an ideal candidate for this award, as he has made a remarkable number of contributions to our field over the course of the last 10-20 years,” Dr. Perlis wrote in his nomination letter. “His exceptional work not only pertains to his science, but also includes his being a remarkable clinician, teacher and mentor, and advocate for the advancement of our field and professional society.”
Dr. Grandner’s research focuses on the real-world implications of sleep health. This includes examining upstream social, behavioral and environmental determinants of sleep, downstream cardiometabolic and neurocognitive consequences of sleep problems, and interventions to improve sleep health.
“This award is special because it shows that the field of behavioral sleep medicine recognizes multidimensional sleep health in addition to its more traditional interests, such as behavioral treatments for sleep disorders,” said Dr. Grandner, who is a member of the BIO5 Institute and an associate professor of psychiatry with additional appointments in medicine, psychology, nutritional sciences, and clinical and translational science.
“Since coming to Arizona, I have had many opportunities to build the programs, develop the collaborations and implement projects needed to make as much of an impact as possible in the field,” said Dr. Grander, who joined the university in 2015. “I could not have earned this award without the support of the Department of Psychiatry, the College of Medicine – Tucson and the University of Arizona Health Sciences.”
The Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine’s mission is to set standards and promote excellence in behavioral sleep medicine health care, education and research. Dr. Grandner received the society’s Arthur J. Spielman Early Career Distinguished Achievement Award in 2013.