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Damion R. Stevens, M.D., MS

Damion Stevens portrait
Associate Professor, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Director, Sleep Lab Medical Director, The University of Kansas Health System

Program Director, Sleep Medicine Fellowship, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

dstevens@kumc.edu

Professional Background

Dr. Damien Stevens is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He completed a fellowship at Rush Presbyterian Saint Luke's Medical Center. He earned his medical degree from and completed his residency at the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Education and Training
  • BA, Biology and Chemistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
  • MD, Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
  • MS, Clinical Research, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois
  • Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri
  • Clinical Fellowship, Pulmonary And Critical Care/Sleep Fellowship, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
Licensure, Accreditations & Certifications
  • Critical Care Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Doctor of Medicine, Kansas Board of Healing Arts
  • Doctor of Medicine, Missouri Division of Professional Registration
  • Pulmonary Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Sleep Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
Professional Affiliations
  • American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Member, 1999 - Present
  • American College of Chest Physicians, Fellow, 1999 - Present
  • American Thoracic Society, Member, 1999 - Present

Research

Overview

My involvement and interest in research dates to my first years of residency, where I was involved in a project investigating the effect of dopamine on T cell function. I won top honors after presenting the findings at our residency research conference, which fueled my research interest even further. During pulmonary/critical care fellowship, I completed a Masters of Science in Clinical Research which further refined my education in clinical research and statistical analysis. More recently I have been able to dedicate more time to research and this has led to several recent abstracts and data which we are still analyzing for publication. Sleep Medicine is a field ripe for research, and I have spearheaded projects such as investigating the sleep habits of a Menonite population, a population that does not use electronics and is absent of the influence of those distractions/light sources on sleep. A questionnaire project done with through the Family Medicine Clinic investigated the effects of co-sleeping with pets, and received extra media attention at the national sleep conference. My main current interests are predictors of CPAP compliance and effectiveness of weight loss interventions in this group. This led to a collaborative research grant with the KU Dietetics and Nutrition Department which incorporates both these aspects of sleep apnea.

Current Research and Grants
  • Effectiveness of a Very Low Calorie Diet or Low Calorie Diet on Moderate to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Obese Adults, KU School of Health Professions, Co-I