GET TO KNOW YOUR LEADERSHIP
Q&A With Sherri Katz, MD, FCCP
Sleep Medicine Network Chair
CHEST member since 2004
August 13, 2026
Where do you work?
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario/Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute/University of Ottawa.
What are your research interests?
Assistive respiratory technology for pediatric neuromuscular disease (specifically lung volume recruitment and airway clearance), pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (predictors, as well as diagnosis and treatment with PAP therapy), pediatric home mechanical ventilation, and long-term outcomes of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
What led you to join your Network?
I learned about the Sleep Medicine Network through mentors who encouraged me to become involved. I soon realized that the Network was a community of health care providers practicing in my field with similar interests. The warm welcome I received, the passion of colleagues to advocate for the needs of our patients, and the knowledge shared within the group inspired me to stay and contribute as best as I could.
What achievements are you most proud of contributing to within your Network?
I began as a member of the Steering Committee of the Home-Based Mechanical Ventilation and Neuromuscular Disease Section of CHEST in 2018. I later became Chair of that Section before assuming the Vice-Chair role of the Sleep Medicine Network—and now the Chair. I am most proud of the community that has developed, leading to the engagement of many more individuals in discussions about and collaboration within this field of practice. Through the pandemic and the ensuing years in which many ventilators were recalled, our Network created best practice guidelines and webinars for home mechanical ventilation that became trusted resources for health care providers. Annually, we have created excellent educational offerings for the CHEST Annual Meeting that cover the breadth of sleep medicine. Finally, as a grateful recipient of a CHEST Sleep Medicine Research Grant, I have been able to contribute to innovation in pediatric sleep medicine, investigating the diagnostic characteristics of parent-recorded home video clips to diagnose OSA.
How has being in a Network benefited your career and your experience as a CHEST member?
Through my involvement in CHEST, I have met many colleagues who have become close friends, expanding both my social and professional networks. I am grateful for the large community of peers I have met. Additionally, I have had opportunities to contribute to conference curricula, guidelines, and webinars, as well as to develop my leadership skills. I have received mentorship and advice from trusted colleagues who have supported my professional growth. I have also benefited from research funding through CHEST philanthropy.
What are your hobbies?
In addition to spending time with my family and friends, I enjoy playing the piano, gardening, cooking, and traveling.
What is something you cannot live without (after family and friends)?
Traveling to explore new places and cultures.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with your Network peers?
I would encourage others to get involved with CHEST Networks. It is a wonderful community!
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