Dear Canadian Sleep Society members and friends,
It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Dr. John Remmers MD, of the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), in July of this year. Dr. Remmers was a visionary physician-scientist whose pioneering work in sleep medicine transformed lives globally and established Calgary as a research and innovation leader in the field. Remmers passed away on July 7 at the age of 87.
Dr. John Remmers’ work in obstructive sleep apnea led to the invention of commercially available CPAP machines.
Courtesy Remmers family
A lasting impact on sleep medicine and public health
Dr. Remmers, a respiratory physiologist and professor emeritus of Medicine and Physiology and Biophysics at CSM, was recruited from the United States to UCalgary in 1984. A world-renowned expert in the neurobiology of breathing and sleep, Dr. Remmers published a landmark study in 1978 about mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Dr. Remmers was among a team of physicians that established the Foothills Medical Centre Sleep Lab in Calgary.
His groundbreaking research in the lab led to the invention of North America’s first commercially available CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine; a device that would become the standard in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, Dr. Remmers developed one of the first home sleep apnea diagnostic systems years before it became a standard of care. His work revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, improving the quality of life for millions worldwide. The research lab’s success quickly enabled its expansion to include patient care, where Remmers co-founded the current Foothills Medical Centre’s sleep clinic and lab. He had an active clinical practice for decades and the clinic and lab continue to support thousands of people seeking help for sleep disorders today.
Educator, innovator and entrepreneur
Beyond the scientific achievements, Dr. Remmers was a dedicated educator and mentor. As a professor of physiology at the CSM, he inspired generations of students and colleagues with his intellectual rigor, humility, and unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care. He trained many master’s and PhD students as well as multiple postdoctoral research fellows. An entrepreneurial thinker, Dr. Remmers developed various technologies and medical devices, launching businesses and a range of commercial products to support improved sleep. A sought-after public speaker, he served two terms as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Applied Physiology and presented numerous research lectures and conferences. He earned a medical degree from Harvard University and completed predoctoral and postdoctoral training at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. He also served two years with the U.S. Armed Forces, stationed in Los Angeles and assigned to support public health.
Dr. Remmers was recognized by the CSM’s division of Respiratory Medicine in November of 2024 with an Inspire Award for his career achievements and spoke to members at the division’s annual awards dinner: “It is not possible to overstate the impact John had on the sleep apnea community across the world, he did it all and he helped establish Calgary as an internationally recognized centre of excellence in sleep apnea research, diagnosis and treatment. He was still actively researching, writing papers and attending conferences right up until he became ill. His curiosity never stopped,” says Dr. Ward Flemons, MD, a former division head of Respiratory Medicine at the CSM and former student of Remmers.
Dr. Remmers reflects on his research and career
Hear him reflect on his research and career in an interview published earlier this year by the American Thoracic Society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qnd8yre_lj8
Our thoughts and condolences are with Dr. Remmer’s family and colleagues, with gratitude for his many and lasting contributions to sleep medicine and public health.