CSA/DAS/MAS in Sleep, Consciousness and Related Disorders
The second cohort has started!

In 2018 the first cohort of students of the Academy of Sleep and Consciousness (ASC) met in Bern, Switzerland to kick off the CAS in Sleep, Consciousness and Related Disorders. At the beginning of July 2021, as the second cohort started with the program, everything was a little different. But before we look at what is happening in the present, let us take a look back.

The ASC was founded in 2017 by Prof. Claudio Bassetti and Prof. Mauro Manconi, both members of the European Sleep Foundation, together with other members of the University of Bern and the Università della Svizzera italiana. From the beginning it has been an ambitious project with the goal of establishing a postgraduate educational program by the University of Bern and the Università della Svizzera italiana. The program should provide advanced medical and scientific insights into sleep physiology, chronobiology and sleep medicine by offering a Certificate (CAS), a Diploma (DAS) as well as a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sleep, Consciousness and Related Disorders. With the strong support of the European Sleep Foundation the full program was built from scratch and successfully launched in 2018. Besides its operative support the ESF has also granted scholarships of 50% or more to all participating students. These generous contributions have made the participation for many students possible in the first place. Today, the 2018 cohort is in its third and final year. After a total of 13 modules the graduating students will be the first to receive the Master of Advanced Studies in Sleep, Consciousness and Related Disorders by the University of Bern and the Università della Svizzera italiana.

With the Sleep Medicine Summer School 2021 the second cohort has started with the program. While three years ago it was a priority to meet in person for the kickoff as well as several other modules, in today’s world the focus lies on digitalization. The ASC is taking this opportunity to make the programs available to students from all over the world. Therefore the current as well as future editions will be accessible online. This is certainly a challenge for the ASC as well as the students but even more so a chance for many people who otherwise could not access these unique CAS, DAS and MAS programs. In strong partnership with the ESF, the ASC is collaborating with many leading Universities from all over the world and has established an international faculty with the fields leading experts. For the Academy of Sleep and Consciousness and its programs these measures are the groundwork for a successful and sustainable future.

For more information on the ASC please visit www.asc.unibe.ch or contact info@asc.unibe.ch

Written by:
Roger Hunziker, Scientific Assistant, INSELSPITAL, Universitätsspital Bern | NeuroTec – Universitätsklinik für Neurologie