Lenoir Community College Polysomnography Program Chair Beth Payne was awarded recently the NC Sleep Excellence Award by the North Carolina Academy of Sleep Medicine, which is the NC State Sleep Society. This award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions in sleep medicine practice, research, education, leadership or advocacy in North Carolina.

Payne graduated from UNC Charlotte with her Bachelor’s in Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Sciences, and has worked as a registered healthcare professional since 2009. She moved to North Carolina with her family in 2012 to join the Lenoir Community College family, and enjoys working with her students daily. In addition to LCC, she manages the McDaniel Sleep Center at UNC Lenoir Health Care in Kinston, which specializes in adult and pediatric sleep.