A conversation with incoming BRPT President Stephen Glinka, MPH, RPSGT
With a career in sleep medicine spanning more than 20 years, Stephen Glinka, MPH, RPGST, has held a variety of leadership positions within the field. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, he’s excited to take on one of his most rewarding yet: President of the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT).
Glinka began his career as an RPSGT at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After spending years as a lead technologist, he became a clinical coordinator for Sleep Services of America. This experience set the foundation for his time as a polysomnographic (PSG) instructor for Lenoir Community College, Kinston, N.C., where he currently serves on the college’s PSG Advisory committee. Glinka earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from William Peace University, Raleigh, N.C., and completed his master’s degree in Public Health at East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.
A dedicated and accomplished health care leader, Glinka is currently the regional vice president of Operations and Clinical Support at MedBridge Health—where he previously served as regional manager and director of Clinical Operations.
As he readies for his term as BRPT president, Glinka reflects on the impact he hopes to make and the vision and priorities he will bring to the role.
Q: What are your top priorities for the BRPT in the coming year?
SG: Sleep technologists are working in a fast-changing health care environment, and BRPT needs to match that pace. One of the ways we’re doing this is by embracing technology to make the credentialing process more seamless. Our new self-service web portal and the upcoming redesign of our website will give credential holders greater control and access to the resources they need.
The new www.brpt.org will feature advanced AI search functionality and chatbot integration for 24/7 user support. We’re also expanding our use of social media and other engagement platforms to strengthen our connection with technologists across all career stages. Ultimately, BRPT should be more than the body that certifies you—it should be a partner throughout your career, offering guidance, recognition, and a professional community.
Q: How do you see BRPT evolving to meet the changing needs of sleep technologists and professionals?
SG: Sleep technologists are working in a fast-changing health care environment, and BRPT needs to match that pace. One of the ways we’re doing this is by embracing technology to make the credentialing process more seamless. Our new self-service web portal and the upcoming redesign of our website will give credential holders greater control and access to the resources they need.
The new www.brpt.org will feature advanced AI search functionality and chatbot integration for 24/7 user support. We’re also expanding our use of social media and other engagement platforms to strengthen our connection with technologists across all career stages. Ultimately, BRPT should be more than the body that certifies you—it should be a partner throughout your career, offering guidance, recognition, and a professional community.
Q: What are some key initiatives or programs you hope to launch or strengthen during your term?
SG: I’m particularly committed to broadening inclusivity within BRPT’s committees and governance. Our credential holders come from many different backgrounds and career pathways, and it’s important that BRPT reflects that diversity of experience in its leadership and decision-making. By recruiting candidates with a variety of viewpoints, we’ll strengthen both our organization and the profession.
At the same time, we’ll continue to address one of the most pressing issues in the field: the sleep technologist shortage. We’ve partnered with our sister organizations to better understand the causes of this shortage, and I believe BRPT has a responsibility to be part of the solution. That includes promoting the value of our credentials, raising awareness of career opportunities, and ensuring that the technologists entering the workforce are well prepared to deliver safe, high-quality patient care.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenges currently facing the field of sleep medicine and technologists?
SG: Without question, the workforce shortage is at the top of the list. It affects everything—from patient access to the stress on existing staff to the ability of sleep centers to expand services. The BRPT has made a concerted effort to investigate the root causes and, through our joint committee with AASM and other partners, we’re examining factors like training pathways, career development, and workforce recognition.
Another challenge is ensuring that as technology advances with home sleep testing, telemedicine, and AI on the horizon, we’re equipping technologists to thrive in that environment. BRPT’s role is to make sure our credentials remain the benchmark of excellence, preparing professionals not only for today’s responsibilities but for where the field is heading.
Q: Looking back on your 20+ years in sleep medicine, what experiences have most shaped your leadership style?
SG: I’ve been fortunate to see this profession from nearly every angle—starting as a night technologist, then working as a lead and coordinator, teaching as an instructor, and later moving into management and executive leadership. Each role shaped how I approach leadership today. What ties them all together is a focus on patient care. Whether I was running a study, teaching a student, or managing a department, the central question has always been: How does this improve the patient experience?
Volunteering with organizations like BRPT has also been hugely influential. It has given me the opportunity to learn from colleagues across the country, see challenges from multiple perspectives, and understand the importance of collaborative leadership. Those experiences have shaped my belief that strong leadership in sleep medicine means being both patient-centered and people-centered.
Q: How did your time as a PSG instructor and your academic background in public health influence your approach to this new leadership role?
SG: Teaching at Lenoir Community College was one of the most rewarding parts of my career. Helping students gain the knowledge and confidence to pass their boards and launch their careers gave me a deep appreciation for the power of education and mentorship. Some of the proudest moments I’ve had have been running into former students at conferences and seeing the accomplished professionals they’ve become.
My graduate training in Public Health at East Carolina University added another layer to that perspective. It gave me a more global view of health care—one that looks at population health, health equity, and the systemic challenges we face in a post-pandemic world. Sleep is an essential component of public health, and I see tremendous opportunity to better integrate it into broader health initiatives.
As BRPT president, I hope to foster more cross-pollination between sleep medicine and public health, because the future of both fields is closely intertwined.
