From 9 to 11 July 2026, I had the honor of serving on the executive committee of the Sleep Disorder Society of Malaysia (SDSM) as Organizing Chairperson for SLEEP 2026 x the Malaysian Multidisciplinary Sleep Congress (MMSC), held at NEXUS, Connexion Conference & Event Centre in Bangsar South City, Kuala Lumpur. It was a deeply memorable few days, and one I’m proud to have helped bring together.

Taking on the role of Organizing Chairperson meant months of work long before the doors opened: coordinating with speakers across disciplines, refining the scientific program, and making sure every detail, from registration to the workshop logistics, came together smoothly. Standing in the hall on the first morning and watching delegates from across Malaysia and beyond fill the room made all of it worthwhile.

Building on a Strong First Year

This was the second time SDSM hosted MMSC, following a successful debut in April 2025 that drew hundreds of local and international delegates and generated enthusiastic feedback. Rather than simply repeating the formula, this year’s committee set out to build on that foundation, expanding the program with new topics and deeper multidisciplinary collaboration.

This year’s congress carried the theme “Redefining Sleep Health in this Obesity Era,” reflecting a growing recognition within the field that sleep medicine can no longer be practiced in isolation. The relationship between sleep and obesity is bidirectional and complex, and it demands input from sleep physicians, endocrinologists, dietitians, ENT surgeons, dentists, and allied health professionals working together. That multidisciplinary spirit was very much the heartbeat of this year’s event.

More Than Just Talks

Alongside the main scientific sessions, this year’s congress featured a pre-congress workshop on the practical aspects of myofunctional therapy, giving hands-on training to participants working with patients affected by sleep-disordered breathing. For those pursuing further credentials, we also ran a preparatory course for the World Sleep Society (WSS) Sleep Specialist Examination, a rigorous, three-part exam covering basic and clinical science, applied methods, and clinical practice in sleep medicine.

These additions were deliberate. As an organizing committee, we wanted MMSC to be more than a series of lectures; we wanted it to be a place where clinicians could walk away with practical skills and a clearer path toward specialization, not just new ideas to think about.

The Real Measure of Success

Hosting MMSC for a second consecutive year was no small undertaking. There were logistical hurdles, last-minute changes, and the usual stress that comes with organizing an event of this scale. But seeing the multidisciplinary community grow, connect, and exchange ideas over those three days made every bit of the planning worthwhile. Our hope going in was simple: to bring people together. By that measure, this year’s congress was a success, and the energy in the room over those three days confirmed it.

For the full program, speaker line-up, and event details, visit the official SLEEP 2026 x MMSC page.

Looking Ahead

Two years in, MMSC is starting to feel less like a one-off event and more like a fixture on the calendar for anyone working in sleep health in Malaysia. We’re already looking forward to future editions of MMSC and to seeing this community continue to grow.

None of this would have been possible without the tireless work of the SDSM executive committee, our speakers, sponsors, and volunteers, and the delegates who traveled from near and far to be part of it. Many thanks to the Sleep disorder society of Malaysia for their support in making this event possible.