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Faculty

Jessica Wright

CRNP
Nurse practitioner
Sleep Didorders Center of Alabama

my name is Jessica Wright and I am an adult primary care nurse practitioner at the Sleep Disorders Center of Alabama, and I live with narcolepsy type 1. From both a personal and clinical perspective, every day I see how challenging living with narcolepsy or idiopathic
hypersomnia (IH) can be. That really shapes how I approach my patients, especially when they are
hesitant about treatment. I’m able to relate to those concerns and help guide those conversations in a
way that feels more real and supportive. I’m excited to be here today to share both my experience
managing patients with hypersomnia disorders and my own journey living with narcolepsy.

2026 Sessions

MasterClass: Translating Orexin Science Into Practice: Psychiatry's Role in Narcolepsy Care

Psychiatry clinicians are often among the first to encounter the cognitive and behavioral consequences of narcolepsy, yet it may be difficult to recognize. This session reviews the neurobiology of orexin deficiency, highlights practical strategies for differentiating narcolepsy from psychiatric conditions, and examines emerging orexin receptor agonists and their implications for clinical practice.<br><br>Supported by an educational grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.

Speaker

Thursday, September 17 10:15–11:45 AM
Room Great Hall B
Steering Committee

Craig Chepke

MD
Medical Director
Excel Psychiatric Associates

Dr. Craig Chepke is a Board-Certified psychiatrist in clinical practice as the medical director of Excel Psychiatric Associates in Huntersville, NC. He serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry for the Atrium Health Psychiatry Residency Program and is the Chief Medical Officer of the Psych Congress portfolio of Continuing Education conferences. Dr. Chepke earned his medical degree from NYU School of Medicine and completed his psychiatry residency at Duke University. As part of an interdisciplinary treatment team in his practice, he employs a person-centered care model to tailor treatments to each individual's needs, integrating traditional pharmacotherapy with psychotherapeutic and physical health and wellness interventions. His clinical and academic interests include serious mental illness, movement disorders, ADHD, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chepke has been recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and is a recipient of the NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist Award.

Faculty

Logan Schneider

MD
Co-Director
Stanford University School of Medicine
Faculty

Jessica Wright

CRNP
Nurse practitioner
Sleep Didorders Center of Alabama

my name is Jessica Wright and I am an adult primary care nurse practitioner at the Sleep Disorders Center of Alabama, and I live with narcolepsy type 1. From both a personal and clinical perspective, every day I see how challenging living with narcolepsy or idiopathic
hypersomnia (IH) can be. That really shapes how I approach my patients, especially when they are
hesitant about treatment. I’m able to relate to those concerns and help guide those conversations in a
way that feels more real and supportive. I’m excited to be here today to share both my experience
managing patients with hypersomnia disorders and my own journey living with narcolepsy.
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