A photo of Kelly C. Byars.

Kelly C. Byars, PsyD, ABPP, DBSM


  • Pediatric Psychologist, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology
  • Director, SBSM Accredited Behavioral Sleep Medicine Training Program
  • Associate Director, ACGME Accredited Pulmonary Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program
  • Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
I practice family-centered care and offer practical and effective treatment guided by patient and caregiver goals. My team and I work to strengthen the connection between your body’s natural sleep rhythm, environment, and unique habits, practices, beliefs and daily routines.
Kelly C. Byars, PsyD, ABPP, DBSM

About

Biography

As a pediatric sleep psychologist, my clinical and research programs focus on helping pediatric patients and their families get the sleep they need to stay healthy. I work closely with other medical subspecialties, including pulmonary medicine, neurology and otolaryngology, to evaluate and treat pediatric sleep disorders. These include insomnia, hypersomnia (excessive sleep), parasomnia (disruptive disorders that occur during sleep) and sleep-disordered breathing.

Getting adequate sleep is critical to a healthy life. When I was training as a pediatric psychologist, it was evident to me that many children and families living with medical and behavioral health concerns also had trouble getting enough sleep. During my fellowship training at Cincinnati Children’s, I decided to pursue a professional career dedicated to improving sleep in children with health conditions that compromise sleep.

I am board certified in behavioral sleep medicine and in child and adolescent psychology. I direct Cincinnati Children’s Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program. Under my direction, this program is committed to providing treatments for sleep disorders that are guided by research findings and adapted to the unique needs of each patient and family.

In my clinic, I practice family-centered care and offer practical and effective treatment guided by patient and caregiver goals. My team and I work to strengthen the connection between your body’s natural sleep rhythm, environment, and unique habits, practices, beliefs and daily routines. Behavioral sleep medicine treatment is usually effective within one to two months of starting.

My current research efforts are closely tied to my clinical practice. They are focused in the following key areas:

  • Optimizing the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for pediatric insomnia
  • Helping children and families overcome barriers to using positive airway pressure therapy for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
  • Developing standards of behavioral sleep medicine care for youth with hypersomnia
  • Better understanding the relationship between chronic pain and sleep in youth

I’m pleased to be recognized as a fellow by the American Psychological Association, an honor that acknowledges my clinical care, applied clinical research and training for outstanding contributions to the field of professional psychology. I am also proud to direct one of only a few pediatric behavioral sleep medicine training programs in the U.S. that has accreditation by the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine. Lastly, board certification by the American Board of Professional Psychology and the Board of Behavioral Sleep Medicine are markers of my specialized training and competence in pediatric psychology and pediatric behavioral sleep medicine.

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, attending my three children’s many extracurricular activities and following my favorite sports teams. I also enjoy cooking and baking, reading, biking, walking our dogs and trips to the beach.

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.

Interests

Pediatric behavioral sleep medicine

Services and Specialties

Behavioral Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Sleep Disorders, Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology

Research Areas

Clinical Psychology

Insurance Information

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Publications

Current Considerations in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders in Children. Witt, RM; Byars, KC; Decker, K; Dye, TJ; Riley, JM; Simmons, D; Smith, DF. Seminars in Pediatric Neurology. 2023; 48:101091.

Caregiver experiences helping children with Down syndrome use positive airway pressure to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Xanthopoulos, MS; Nelson, MN; Eriksen, W; Barg, FK; Byars, KC; Ishman, SL; Esbensen, AJ; Meinzen-Derr, J; Heubi, CH; Gurbani, NS; et al. Sleep Medicine. 2023; 107:179-186.

712 CHILDREN WITH ABDOMINAL PAIN PREDOMINANT DISORDERS OF GUT-BRAIN INTERACTION HAVE MORE SLEEP DISTURBANCES. FIRST OF A KIND SCHOOL STUDY. Santucci, NR; Velasco, C; King, C; Byars, K; Dye, T; Saps, M. Gastroenterology. 2023; 164:s-149.

Factors affecting pediatric adherence to positive airway pressure: Patient- and caregiver-reported treatment barriers and sleep difficulties. Carmody, JK; Duraccio, KM R; Krietsch, KN; Simmons, DM; Byars, KC. Sleep Medicine. 2023; 101:58-65.

Adolescent sleep myths: Identifying false beliefs that impact adolescent sleep and well-being. Robbins, R; Beebe, DW; Byars, KC; Grandner, M; Hale, L; Tapia, IE; Wolfson, AR; Owens, JA. Sleep Health. 2022; 8:632-639.

Outcomes of Pre-treatment and Post-treatment measures after therapy for pediatric circadian disorders. Riley, JM; Hamparian, CN; Sestito, AP; Duggins, AL; Owens, TL; Witt, RM; Simmons, D; Byars, K; Hogenesch, JB; Dye, TJ; et al. Sleep Medicine. 2022; 100:s51-s52.

Safe and Effective Use of Suvorexant in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Single-Center, Retrospective Study of Clinical Practice. Witt, RM; Riley, JM; Hamparian, CN; Owens, TL; Simmons, D; Byars, KC; Hogenesch, JB; Smith, DF; Dye, TJ. Sleep Medicine. 2022; 100:s172-s173.

Developing a Multidisciplinary Pediatric Circadian Medicine Clinic: The Circadian and Complex Sleep Disorders Clinic. Riley, JM; Hamparian, CN; Sestito, AP; Duggins, AL; Owens, TL; Witt, RM; Simmons, D; Byars, K; Hogenesch, JB; Dye, TJ; et al. Sleep Medicine. 2022; 100:s46-s47.

Impact of Exogenous Melatonin on Sleep and Daytime Functioning in Healthy, Typically Developing Adolescents. Iwamoto, BK; Decker, KM; Byars, KC; Van Dyk, TR. Current sleep medicine reports. 2022; 8:62-73.

Suvorexant Is Safe and Effective in a Pediatric Population: A Single-Center, Retrospective Study. Witt, RM; Riley, JM; Hamparian, CN; Owens, TL; Simmons, D; Byars, KC; Hogenesch, JB; Smith, DF; Dye, TJ. Sleep Medicine. 2022; 100:s208.

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4.6
Overall Patient Rating