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Kelly C. Byars, PsyD

Pediatric Psychologist

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone: 513-636-4336

Fax: 513-636-7756

Email: kelly.byars@cchmc.org

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Specialties

Pediatric behavioral sleep medicine

Biography

Kelly C. Byars, PsyD, is an associate professor of clinical pediatrics in the Division of Psychology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Byars is a pediatric behavioral psychologist who specializes in behavioral assessment and treatment of children with acute and chronic medical conditions. His primary areas of interest are pediatric sleep disorders, pediatric dysphagia and pediatric elimination disorders. Dr. Byars directs the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at Cincinnati Children's. He is also involved in the clinical training of postdoctoral fellows and residents.

Dr. Byars' research interests are closely tied to his clinical practice. Dr. Byars has published research focusing on a number pediatric illness groups including feeding disorders, cardiac illness, cancer, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis and insulin-dependent diabetes. Dr. Byars collaborates with other investigators at Cincinnati Children's. His current research efforts are focused on improving behavioral assessment and treatment strategies for children with sleep and feeding disorders.

Dr. Byars received his PsyD from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology in Atlanta, GA. He completed an internship in Pediatric Psychology at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at Cincinnati Children's. Dr. Byars joined the faculty of Cincinnati Children's and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in July 2000.

Education and Training

PsyD: Georgia School of Professional Psychology, Atlanta, GA, 1998

Residency: Clinical Psychology / Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

Fellowship: Cincinnati Children' s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2000.

Certification: Licensure in Psychology, State of Ohio, 2000; National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, 2001; Certification in Behavioral Sleep Medicine, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, June 2005.

Publications

View PubMed Publications

Beebe DW, Byars KC. Adolescents with obstructive sleep apnea adhere poorly to positive airway pressure (PAP), but PAP users show improved attention and school performance. PLoS One. 2011 Mar 17;6(3):e16924.

Byars K, Apiwattanasawee P, Leejakpai A, Tangchityongsiva S, Simakajornboom N. Behavioral sleep disturbances in children clinically referred for evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Med. 2011 Feb;12(2):163-9.

Byars AW, Byars KC, Johnson CS, DeGrauw TJ, Fastenau PS, Perkins S, Austin JK, Dunn DW. The relationship between sleep problems and neuropsychological functioning in children with first recognized seizures. Epilepsy Behav. 2008 Nov;13(4):607-13.

Meltzer L, Mindell J, Owens J, Byars KC. The Use of Sleep Medications in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients. Pediatrics. 2007;119(6):1047–55.

Book Chapters

Byars, K. Scheduled awakenings: A behavioral protocol for treating sleepwalking and sleep terrors in children. In M. Perlis, M. Aloia, and B. Kuhn, (Eds.) Behavioral treatments for sleep disorders: A comprehensive primer of behavioral sleep medicine interventions. London: London: Elsevier Academic Press, 2010.

Byars KC, Amin R. Fatigue and Sleep Disorders. In G. Slapp (Ed.) Adolescent Medicine: The Requisites in Pediatrics. Philadelphia: Elsevier Press, 2008.