2018 Distinguished Achievement Award
Professor Peter Cistulli, University of Sydney

Peter Cistulli has been working in the field of sleep medicine since graduating from Sydney University more than 30 years ago. His career in sleep medicine began with a PhD looking at sleep-disordered breathing in Marfan's syndrome, working with Colin Sullivan. Even at this early stage, his academic rigour, intellectual curiosity and clinical excellence were recognised and he was immediately recruited to establish the Centre for Sleep Disorders and Respiratory Failure at St George Hospital, in 1994. Since that time, Professor Cistulli has developed a national and international reputation for excellence and leadership in clinical service and research. He has119 refereed journal publications, numerous monographs and book chapters and is an invited speaker at every significant national and international sleep meeting. Professor Cistulli is the recognised world leader in the field of oral appliances in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea and has been instrumental in raising the international profile and recognition of Australasian research worldwide. In addition, he served as President of the Australasian Sleep Association in 2003-2005 and has been on the Board of the Sleep Health Foundation since 2011. In 2005 he was recruited to the Chair of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital and in 2015 he became the inaugural appointee to the ResMed Chair in Sleep Medicine, based at the Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney. Within this highly diverse multidisciplinary environment he established the Sleep Theme as a new research theme informing the activities of the centre. In parallel he has established a comprehensive sleep research program that spans bench to bedside and to public health.

Professor Cistulli had contributed to all aspects of sleep medicine for 3 decades. He has a stellar, internationally recognised and lauded research and academic career, as well as being recognised for clinical excellence. He has made significant contributions to both the Australasian Sleep Association and the Sleep Health Foundation and mentored numerous post-graduate students.