Local Sleep Specialist Named President of American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Saint Thomas Midtown and Saint Thomas Medical Partners are pleased to announce that Dr. Kelly A. Carden has been named the 34th president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) board of directors. She will serve a one-year term leading the physicians, scientists, advanced practice providers and allied health professionals who make up the AASM’s 10,000 members.
“This is an invigorating time for the field of sleep medicine as we seize new opportunities to expand our workforce and embrace new technologies,” said Dr. Kelly A. Carden, Sleep Specialist, Saint Thomas Medical Partners. “We need to provide an opportunity for the millions of people with untreated sleep disorders to receive a diagnosis and effective treatment, as undiagnosed sleep disorders increase the risk of chronic diseases and mental health problems.”
An AASM member since 2004, Carden has served on the board of directors since 2013, was secretary/treasurer from 2015 – 2018, and served a one-year term as president-elect from 2018 – 2019. She also has lectured extensively, most recently giving a presentation at the AASM’s annual Sleep Medicine Trends course, during which she described the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants as members of the sleep team.
“The Saint Thomas community is privileged to have a leader with Dr. Carden’s passion for researching new sleep technologies,” said Fahad Tahir, President and CEO, Saint Thomas Midtown and West. “Dr. Carden’s commitment to sleep care innovation means improved quality of life for many in Middle Tennessee and beyond.”
A practicing sleep physician with Saint Thomas Medical Partners – Sleep Specialists in Nashville, Carden earned her medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine before completing fellowships in pulmonary medicine, critical care, and sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School. She now devotes all of her clinical time to the practice of sleep medicine.
