William C. Dement, MD, PhD, is a leading authority on sleep, sleep deprivation, and the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. He is currently Director, Sleep Disorders Clinic and Laboratory at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

In 1970, he founded the world's first sleep disorders center at Stanford University. In 1975, he launched the American Sleep Disorders Association (now the American Academy of Sleep Medicine) and shepherded the Academy's development as President during its first twelve years.

Dr. Dement is the founder of the American Board of Sleep Medicine, which examines physicians who wish to specialize in sleep medicine and certifies that they possess the requisite skills and knowledge.

He is co-editor of the definitive textbook, Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine, and founding co-editor of the premier scientific journal, SLEEP.

Dr. Dement also served as chairman of the congressionally-mandated National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research whose study and recommendations led directly to the creation of a new agency within the National Institutes of Health, the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research.