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Kelly C. Byars, PsyD

Pediatric Psychologist, Clinical, Behavioral Medicine & Clinical Psychology

Academic Affiliations

Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-636-4336

Fax 513-636-7756

Email kelly.byars@cchmc.org

Clinical Interests
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Pediatric behavioral sleep medicine
Biography
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Kelly C. Byars, PsyD, is a professor of clinical pediatrics for Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center within the UC Department of Pediatrics. 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
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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
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View PubMed Publications

Becker SP, Langberg JM, Byars KC. Advancing a biopsychosocial and contextual model of sleep in adolescence: a review and introduction to the special issue. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 2015;44:239-270.

Becker SP, Ramsey RR, Byars KC. Convergent Validity of the Child Behavior Checklist sleep items with validated sleep measures and sleep disorder diagnoses in children and adolescents referred to a sleep disorders center. Sleep Medicine. 2015 Jan;16(1):79-86.

Byars K, Simon S. Practice patterns and insomnia treatment outcomes from an evidence-based pediatric behavioral sleep medicine clinic. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. 2014;2(3):337-349.

Malow B, Byars KC, Johnson Weiss S, Bernal P, Goldman SE, Panzer R, Coury D, Glaze D. A Practice Pathway for the Identification, Evaluation and Management of Insomnia in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Pediatrics. 2012;130:S106. 

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.

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