What the ASBA has done for me, by Cristin Lewis

I’d like to take a moment to share my journey and deep appreciation for the incredible people and organizations that have shaped my path in sleep medicine and airway health.

Mallory Love & Dr. Cristin Lewis

I first met David Gergen at the Vivos convention in New York City, circa 2017. He was speaking at the event, and I learned he was the primary lab expert behind Vivos. Back then, David was the go-to guy—knowledgeable, approachable, and passionate about helping others. He was accompanied by another gentleman, Andre Collins, who struck me immediately as just a good, good man.

That first encounter with David left a strong impression. After his talk, he spoke to me about the American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA) and encouraged me to join. I took his advice, and I’m so grateful I did. Through ASBA, I was introduced to Alan Hickey, a true pioneer in our field, who unfortunately passed recently. His loss is deeply felt within the sleep medicine community.

Joining ASBA truly changed the trajectory of my career. At the time, I was already treating a few NFL players. I expressed to David that I wanted to work with more, and he gave me a key insight: “There’s the league, and then there are retired players—two completely different animals.” David explained that he was focusing on retired players and that Andre Collins, as Executive Director of the NFLPA Former Players, was leading efforts to help them.

Following David’s speech at the convention, I started using his lab—Gergen’s Orthodontic Lab—for both Vivos and my other dental appliances. The partnership turned out to be incredible. David was supportive, generous with his expertise, and always willing to help me with

challenging cases. I vividly remember one case where he offered a bold solution: a cantilever Herbst with a memory RPE screw. He told me, “Cristin, this is a handful and requires a certain skill level, but I think you have it.” I trusted him, and he was absolutely right. That patient’s symptoms disappeared, and his family was thrilled with the outcome.

These moments are the ones I treasure most. They remind me of the power of collaboration, mentorship, and the right training. Becoming a diplomate of ASBA opened doors I never expected. Not long after that case, David reached out again—this time about formally joining the NFLPA initiative to treat retired players.

He said he hadn’t seen an office as organized and well-run as mine, and he wanted me to treat the former players in my area. We planned a local event to screen and treat them for sleep apnea, and I was thrilled to be part of it. After treating several players and delivering their appliances, I received a check for over $44,000.with ZERO lab bill. Not a bad day’s work,—and even more rewarding knowing it came from helping people regain their health.

Since then, the opportunity has only grown. I'm now receiving multiple checks from MetLife for ongoing care to former NFL players and their families. All of this began because I joined ASBA and connected with David Gergen and his amazing team.

I am beyond grateful for this journey—one fueled by purpose, impact, and relationships that truly matter. I am more than beyond being thrilled with ASBA, it truly is the best! i am currently taking the Study Club courses taught by Dr. Tim Adams. Formly the head guy for LVI. Im learning all kinds of new and exciting things. Such as adjusting cranial bones and fixing cranial strains.

With gratitude,Cristin Lewis