Douglas B Kirsch MD FAAN, FAASM

Neurophysiology, Sleep Medicine

Medical Director, Sleep Medicine, Atrium Health; Clinical Professor, Dept. of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

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1601 Abbey PlSte 200Charlotte, NC 28209
Phone+1 704-512-2980

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Summary

Douglas Kirsch, MD, is a neurologist based in Charlotte, NC, specializing in Sleep Medicine. He completed his medical education at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1999 and pursued advanced training with a fellowship in Sleep Medicine and Clinical Neurophysiology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Kirsch is currently a Clinical Professor in the Department of Neurology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Director of Sleep Medicine at Atrium Health. He is also an accomplished author, with recent publications on obstructive sleep apnea and sleep management. Notable roles in his career include past presidencies of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Program Chair of the SLEEP meeting. He consults for many companies looking for guidance in Sleep Medicine.

Education & Training

University of MichiganFellowship, Clinical Neurophysiology, 2003 - 2004
University of Rochester Medical CenterResidency, Neurology, 2000 - 2003
Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University HealthInternship, Internal Medicine, 1999 - 2000
University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolClass of 1999
Dartmouth CollegeB.A., Biology, 1991 - 1995

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Certifications & Licensure

NC State Medical License 2014 - 2027
MA State Medical License 2006 - 2016
RI State Medical License 2009 - 2014
CT State Medical License 2010 - 2013
MI State Medical License 2003 - 2007
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Neurology
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Sleep Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Excellence in Education American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2026
President Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS)
President American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2018-2019

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

1 citations
The Patient-reported Longitudinal Assessment Tool for OSA (PLATO): development and validation of a new clinical tool to assess response to obstructive sleep apnea trea...
Douglas Kirsch, Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg, Charles Davies, Charlene Gamaldo, Sherene Thomas
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2025-10-01
3 citations
Polysomnography validation of SANSA to detect obstructive sleep apnea.
Cathy Goldstein, Hamid Ghanbari, Surina Sharma, Nancy Collop, Andrew Namen
Frontiers in Neurology. 2025-01-01
1 citations
Medical emergency team activation and cost reduction in cardiovascular surgery and nonsurgical patients: DOISNORE50 sleep protocol.
Kang Rui Xiang, Kristin N Sheehan, Amit K Saha, Abigail L Koch, Justin Rackley
Sleep. 2024-10-11

Journal Articles

Sleep-disordered breathing in neurologic conditions
Deak MC, Kirsch DB, Clin Chest Med, 1/1/2014
In Home Testing for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Kirsch, DB, Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology, 1/1/2013
What’s in Your Toolbox: Sleep Medicine Evaluation Tools For Neurologists
Kirsch, DB, Neurologic Clinics of North America, Neurol Clin, 1/30/2012

Books/Book Chapters

Common Pitfalls in Sleep Medicine: Case-Based Learning
Chapter: Daytime Sleepiness and OSA severity: Where Symptoms and Metrics Do Not Converge
Kirsch, DBEditors: Chervin, RD.2014
Sleep Medicine in Neurology
Chapter: Introduction to Sleep Medicine
Kirsch, DBEditors: Kirsch, DB.Wiley-Blackwell2013
Encyclopedia of Sleep
Chapter: Diagnostic Algorithms for Parasomnias
Kirsch, DBEditors: Kushida, C.Academic Press2012

Abstracts/Posters

Automated Graduated CPAP (AGPAP) forImproved Adherence in Newly Diagnosed OSA Patients - Multicenter Trial
Lankford, A. Muehlbach, M. Donikyan, M. Powell, E. Chang, S. Zammit, G.Wylie, P. Kirsch, D. Pregram Jr, G, APSS, 1/1/2015
There and Back Again: A History of Sleep Medicine
Kirsch, DB, Neurology Grand Rounds, Sleep and Fatigue Conference, Sleep HealthCenters, Chest, St. Louis, MO, 2011; Brighton, MA, 2012, 1/1/2012
Effectiveness of oral appliances for obstructive sleep apnea in REM vs. non-REM sleep
Kirsch DB, Hirunwiwatkul P, Consens FB, Chervin RC, APSS, 1/1/2006

Lectures

Gizmos, Gadgets, and Apss: An Update for 2015
Myrtle Beach, SC - 1/1/2015
Gizmos and Gadgets: an Update for 2015
Charlotte, NC - 1/1/2015
Pro: Treat OSA Before Other Disorders
Phoenix, AZ - 1/1/2015

Other

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Kirsch, DB, Comprehensive Neurology in Primary Care
1/1/2014
Stages and architecture of normal sleep
Kirsch DB
Uptodate.com
1/1/2014
Hypersomnolence
Kirsch DB, Selwa LS, Chervin RD
Medlink.com
1/1/2007

Press Mentions

What Time Should You Wake Up? Probably Not 5 a.m.January 10th, 2026
Apnimed to Host Virtual Investor Event Highlighting the Potential for AD109 as a Novel Pharmacotherapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea on April 11, 2025March 25th, 2025
Insomnia Often Goes Hand in Hand with Depression in Older AdultsSeptember 9th, 2022