33
In the Moonlight
Q&A with Nisar Ashraf, BSRC, CRT-SDS, RPSGT, RST
“In the Moonlight” puts an American Association of Sleep
Technologists (AAST) member in the spotlight, giving readers
an opportunity to get to know one of their colleagues. This
month A2Zzz asked Nisar Ashraf, BSRC, CRT-SDS, RPSGT,
RST to complete the following statements. Nisar has been in the
sleep field since 2000. He is the Clinical Services Manager for
SleepMed, Inc. in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
When I was young I wanted to grow up to be a…physician.
I decided to become a sleep technologist because…of my
interest in sleep. I was introduced to it in my Respiratory program
at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
I was fascinated by all of the EEG and different parameters we
monitored on every patient.
I got my first job in sleep technology at…St. Francis Hospital in
Indianapolis.
I became an AAST member because…I want to stay updated
about upcoming sleep related news.
The website I visit most often is…www.aasmnet.org, www.brpt.
org and www.news.yahoo.com.
The person whom I would most like to meet is…anyone who
has an inspiring story to tell that makes us appreciate our
surroundings.
The biggest change I have seen in the profession since I started
is…reimbursement cuts, challenges in the sleep profession, home
sleep tests versus in lab studies.
Words of advice I have for people who are new to the
profession are: sleep is still a very rewarding career, do not
hesitate to completely engulf yourself in sleep.
My professional goals for the next five years are…to grow my
areas and do more intense sleep related lectures and physician
training.
Sleep is…the best meditation. – Dalai Lama
The person who has had the greatest influence on my career
is…my mentor Ben Thomas. I’ve been working with him since
2001. He owned his own Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility
(IDTF) that was six beds when I joined his team. We quickly
grew to 14 beds and ran seven nights a week.
The most challenging part of my profession is…reimbursement
cuts depleting the quality of studies and specialists in the sleep
profession.
September
2010 | Volume
al Loss with
le Neuron
 Possib
19 | Number
3
Insomnia
and
Sleep Apnea
Upper
ctive
Oxide, Obstru
mation
Facilities
for Sleep
Airway Inflam
Techniques
Strategy and
Management
 Nitric
The thing I like most about my profession is…helping people
and hearing them say that they slept great and were dreaming
while using CPAP.
 Risk
 The
A, B, C of
 Second
PAP
“DIY EEGT”
Generation
Alpha Rhythm
ic
A Publ
meric
f the A
ation o
t of the
and the Pursui
oci
an Ass
f Sleep
ation o
Techno
logists
The food I’m most likely to snack on while working is…trail
mix.
For fun on days off from work I like
to…relax and do some projects around
the house.
My favorite TV show is…Gold Rush.
My favorite singer or musical group
is…Andrea Bocelli.
A2 Zzz 22.1 | March 2013
Would you like to appear
“In the Moonlight”? Send an e-mail to
A2Zzz@aastweb.org.