Author: Regine Alisan
Troy Sebastian was welcomed as a key team member to the Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System in 2016 as a 25-year sleep technician with extensive experience enhancing sleep health. Having knowledge of sleep medicine is beneficial to veterans, a population that often faces serious challenges when it comes to sleep. Sebastian assists Veterans in getting the restful sleep they require for better health. His decision to pursue a career in sleep medicine demonstrates his great commitment to helping underserved communities.
In 2016, the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation asked him to assist in establishing a sleep clinic exclusively for Native American patients, a demographic frequently disregarded in the medical field. After opening in 2017, the facility soon became the first sleep center on a Self-Determination Native American Reservation to receive accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. A national standard for accessibility of sleep healthcare was established in Native American communities through this accomplishment, giving individuals who faced health barriers life-changing therapy.
Sebastian’s profession in sleep medicine was made possible by his military experience. As a former Marine Corps combat corpsman in the Navy, he has direct expertise in operating under duress and attending to vital health needs. This encounter strengthened his desire to help others, and he quickly discovered that enhancing people’s sleep may significantly impact their general health.
Sebastian works with veterans at the VA’s Home Sleep Apnea Clinic in Prescott, Northern Arizona. The elderly and veterans are particularly susceptible to sleep apnea, which causes loud snoring, breathing pauses during sleep, and daytime fatigue. The clinic offers home testing to provide a realistic glimpse of patients’ sleep patterns as part of its accessible therapy approach. A customized treatment plan is developed if a patient’s results satisfy the requirements.
Sleep apnea is one of the most common conditions treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Even though it’s frequently considered painful equipment, Sebastian notes that CPAP technology has come a long way. Inspire Sleep, an implanted device for patients who might not react as well to CPAP treatments, is another cutting-edge treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea.
Sebastian’s efforts are acknowledged outside of the VA. As a founding board member of the Arizona Sleep Society, he has played a major part in facilitating the development of sleep disorder centers throughout the Southwest and has assisted in training respiratory therapists. As an instructor at Gateway Community College, he mentors the upcoming generation of sleep technicians in polysomnography. His training in sleep medicine began with Harvard-trained physicians at the New England VA before he joined the Northern Arizona VA, where he further developed his skills.
Sebastian’s arrival offers veterans in Northern Arizona a new standard of treatment for their sleep health. He is a tremendous value to the community because of his commitment to improving the lives of those who have served, which fully aligns with the VA’s goal.