Greg Belenky a finalist for Spokane’s Citizen Hall of Fame

Dr. Greg Belenky, a sleep researcher here on campus, is a finalist for Spokane’s Citizen Hall of Fame.

Belenky is one of three finalists in the Science Health and Medicine category. Joining him are Dr. Jacob Deakins and Dr. Alan Hendrickson.

Belenky launched the Sleep and Performance Research Center on campus, which currently operates under the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine umbrella. His research looks into sleep deprivation and its effects on continuous operations, among other topics.

In 2006, Belenky’s research found that an air traffic controller in a Lexington, Ky. plane crash was “substantially fatigued” and was on a schedule that wasn’t friendly to a body’s normal sleep schedule. Belenky has testified in front of Congress about the effects of sleep deprivation in the aviation industry.

Belenky came to WSU Spokane from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and served as a regimental psychiatrist in the Army during the Gulf War.

The Citizens Hall of Fame debuted in 2015 and recognizes individuals who have made, “outstanding contributions to the quality of life” for the city and its people. The winners will be announced on April 14 at the Davenport Hotel.