According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, about 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and roughly half of those cases go untreated.

Clinical Care

Sleep is a critical determinant of our well-being. Those who don’t achieve good sleep suffer tremendously, as sleep affects myriad elements of physical and mental health, including the following:

Cardiovascular health
Cognition
Energy levels
Memory
Neurological health

As one of only a few of its kind in the nation, VCU’s Sleep Apnea Clinic cares for patients whose treatments such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy have been unsuccessful in restoring quality sleep. Otolaryngologists work alongside dentists, neurologists and oromaxillofacial surgeons to provide the full spectrum of cutting-edge treatment options, including hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS), an emerging treatment approved by the FDA in 2014.

Ryan Nord, M.D.

“People are not getting enough sleep, not because we’ve evolved in the last 50 years to need less sleep, but because we’re looking at screens, we’re so busy, we’re constantly connected – all things that disrupt your sleep."

Education

After training at VCU, many of our alumni have gone on to perform the full spectrum of sleep apnea surgeries in their own practices. We are fortunate and proud to offer innovative teaching techniques, such as the use of an excoscope, a high-definition microscope that projects onto a monitor and allows trainees and medical students to co-view the small, intricate areas being operated on. Residents also gain exposure to surgical follow-ups and medical management.

Learn more about the ENT residency program