Project Sleep Board of Directors Announces New President and CEO

LOS ANGELES — February 12, 2018 — The Board of Directors of Project Sleep, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of sleep health and sleep conditions, proudly announces the selection of Project Sleep’s Founder, Julie Flygare, J.D., as the organization’s new President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Flygare is an internationally recognized patient-perspective leader, an accomplished advocate, and the award-winning author of Wide Awake and Dreaming: A Memoir of Narcolepsy.

“Julie is an ideal choice to lead our organization forward,” said Julie Scher, J.D., chair of Project Sleep’s Board of Directors. “She is an innovator with a strong vision for the future, a deep passion for our mission, and invaluable experience in health policy, communications, and philanthropy.”

“Julie has been a key driver in the organization’s development,” added Scher. “Under her leadership, Project Sleep significantly expanded the scope of its achievements — successfully championing high-impact initiatives and cross-disciplinary collaborations. We look forward to further leveraging Julie’s vision to accelerate Project Sleep’s critical work.”  

“It is an incredible honor to take on this new role,” stated Flygare. “I’m extremely grateful to Project Sleep’s Board of Directors and all our supporters for the opportunity of a lifetime to increase my involvement and make a meaningful difference for all those facing sleep-related conditions.”

“We’re seeing increased recognition of the important role patient-driven organizations like Project Sleep play in advancing research and public awareness,” added Flygare. “This is an exciting time for our organization and the entire sleep field to make significant progress and improve lives together.”

Since receiving a diagnosis of narcolepsy with cataplexy in 2007, Flygare advanced her leadership in the sleep and healthcare space through speaking engagements, publications, earned media, collaborations, and advocacy and awareness initiatives. Prior to accepting this role, Flygare served as President of Project Sleep’s Board of Directors, while also gaining invaluable experience in marketing and philanthropy at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and City of Hope. Additionally, she served on the National Institutes of Health’s Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board from 2012 – 2015. Flygare received her B.A. from Brown University in 2005 and her J.D. from Boston College Law School in 2009, focusing on health law, policy, and rare disease drug development.

Flygare assumes the role of President & CEO at Project Sleep effective Monday, February 12, 2018.

About Project Sleep
Believing in the value of sleep, Project Sleep aims to improve public health by generating awareness about the importance of sleep health and sleep disorders. Project Sleep educates and empowers individuals using events, campaigns and programs to bring people together and talk about sleep as a pillar of health. 

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