Application Deadline:
We’re currently accepting applications on a rolling basis.
Program Duration:
2025–2026 Academic Year
Funding Amount:
Awards range from $10,000 to $100,000, depending on the program model.
Application Process:
Please submit applications electronically; all inquiries should be directed to the designated contact.
As of March 2025, the ACGME has greenlit the participation of new programs in the AIRE Pilot initiative, which focuses on innovative fellowship training in sleep medicine.
What’s New with AIRE?
Curious about the Advancing Innovation in Residency Education (AIRE) Pilot Program? It’s a chance for sleep medicine fellowship programs to explore cutting-edge training methods that emphasize competency-based approaches. If you’re contemplating whether the Blended Sleep AIRE model is right for you, there’s a session that dives into the details of this exciting program, which is available for Adult Pulmonary/Critical Care and Pediatric Pulmonary fellows. After the webinar, you can even get matched with a mentor who has experience implementing an AIRE program.
Fresh AIRE Insights
Tune into the latest episode of the Talking Sleep podcast, where program directors and fellows share their experiences with the AIRE innovative fellowship training pilot programs. They discuss the perks of both blended and part-time training models, providing invaluable insights.
The Sleep Apnea & Snore Blog is on the lookout for fellowship training programs eager to participate in these pioneering pilot initiatives. With the ACGME’s approval, we’re testing new educational models that focus on competency-based training. Selected training programs will be able to try out tools developed by the AIRE initiative through two innovative pathways: a part-time model and a blended model that allows for concurrent training in sleep medicine and other specialties.
Why the Change?
Traditionally, sleep training has relied heavily on a time-based model, emphasizing the number of polysomnograms scored and sleep studies interpreted. However, the trend in medical education is shifting toward competency-based training. Despite the establishment of over 80 fellowship training programs since sleep medicine gained recognition in 2005, current projections indicate that the number of newly certified sleep medicine physicians may not keep pace with retirements. This challenge underscores the need for new training pathways that reduce the time burden on fellows, allowing them to gain expertise without extending their training excessively.
The ACGME initiated the AIRE program to spur innovation in graduate medical education. A proposal from the leadership has led to the development of alternate training pathways, utilizing a standardized competency-based curriculum and evaluation tools. These will enable participating programs to compare achievements across various training settings.
Goals and Objectives
The primary aim is to enhance healthcare quality and safety by innovating fellowship training. Participants will implement alternate training pathways that integrate a competency-based curriculum, allowing for blending with other fellowship programs, like pulmonary diseases or pediatric pulmonology, or even part-time training. These will be assessed against traditional time-based models. Additionally, standardized competency assessment tools will be validated, drawing from the ACGME Milestones framework.
Program Eligibility
To join, programs must meet the following criteria:
- Be an ACGME-accredited sleep medicine fellowship program in good standing.
- Be willing to use standardized competency assessment tools provided by the AIRE initiative for both innovative and standard pathways.
- Have the capacity to add an additional fellowship slot.
- For the Part-Time Model, agree to flexible completion dates, not exceeding two years from the start date.
If you’re curious about recognizing sleep disorders, check out our blog post here. Also, for those who suspect allergies may be a factor in snoring, read more about it here. Plus, for a comprehensive resource on sleep and snoring, don’t miss the excellent info at Sleep Foundation.
If snoring is a concern for you or someone you know, consider trying the best anti-snoring mouthpiece available at Snorple, which can help you stop snoring effectively from the first night. To learn how to use a stop snoring mouthpiece, visit this guide.
Together, we can improve sleep medicine and help more people get the rest they deserve.