Clinical Associate Professor

Boise State University

Topic: The Wake-Up Call

Dr. Amanda Leightner PhD, RRT, RRT-SDS, CCSH, RPSGT, RST, CCSH, FAARC earned her Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care in 2000, Master of Health and Human Services in 2013 and a PhD of Health Sciences in 2022, all from Youngstown State University. Her previous work experience includes critical care, trauma, NICU, and Polysomnography. Areas of research interest include cultural competencies; respiratory care fundamentals, and Polysomnography with a focus on Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) adherence. Her most recent research focused on PAP adherence, disruptive behavior in the respiratory workforce and a neuro-accounting study. She currently serves on the National Board Respiratory Care (NBRC) board of directors, serves as the AARC sleep section chair, and the President of the Lambda Beta Board of Directors. She is one of only five in the United States that holds every Polysomnography credential.

Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

University of Washington

Topics: Snore Wars: The Weighty Saga of Sleep Apnea and Obesity

Dr. He completed postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Sleep Medicine at the University of Washington. He has been on staff with sleep medicine at Seattle VA since 2016 and Walla Walla by telehealth since 2021.  He obtained obesity medicine board certification in 2024.  He is on faculty with the UW Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine.   He is a fulltime clinician and precepts internal medicine residents and sleep fellows at the Seattle VA.  He serves as the deputy director for the Seattle VA sleep program, telesleep director for the Walla Walla VA sleep program, and coordinates the UW internal medicine residency sleep medicine elective.

AAGeller Neurology Sleep PLLC

Topic: Myofascial Medicine

Education

Pediatric Internship ( PGY-1) Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children.  Orlando, FL

Residency/ Fellowship ( PGY-2 through PGY-5 ) Adult and Child Neurology.  University of California / San Diego 

Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy Fellowship ( PGY-6).  Univ. of California -Irvine

Fellowship Sleep medicine ( PGY-7)  Univ. of Texas- Southwestern Medical Center

Certifications

Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Board certified in adult and child neurology

Sub-specialty board certified in Sleep medicine

post-graduate fellowship ( PGY-6 ) Epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology

Santa Monica Pulmonary Sleep Clinic

Topic: Pending

Dr. Sam A. Kashani is a board-certified Sleep Medicine Physician who practices in Santa Monica, Porter Ranch, and Santa Clarita. His clinical interests include chronic insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, parasomnias, pediatric sleep disorders, and the association between sleep and mental health. He sees both adult and pediatric patients.

Dr. Kashani completed his residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Southern California, where he worked with the medically underserved population of San Bernardino County with plans of becoming a primary care physician. Upon completing his residency, he chose to pursue his interest in Sleep Medicine and completed a fellowship in Sleep Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Dr. Kashani is currently president of the California Sleep Society (CSS) and regularly delivers lectures on sleep health in the community as well as international conferences. As assistant clinical professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Dr. Kashani maintains a strong interest in teaching patients as well as students and trainees. Outside of medicine, his interests include classic films, fitness, and cycling.

Digna Whole Health

Topic: Perimenopause and sleep

Dr. Ann Huntington is a Board-Certified Internal Medicine Physician, licensed in Idaho, Utah, and Texas. She attended medical school at the University of Utah School of Medicine and completed Internal Medicine Residency at Indiana University in 2011. She has advanced training in evidence-based bioidentical hormone therapy, lifestyle and integrative medicine, and longevity/anti-aging medicine.  She is the Founder of Digna Whole Health, an integrative telemedicine direct specialty care/concierge practice focusing on optimal hormone management for perimenopausal and menopausal women, with focus on optimal sleep, bone and musculoskeletal health, metabolic and cardiovascular health, gut health, and cognition. She is also collaborating with physicians around the country to provide comprehensive education for colleagues on what the entirety of the research reveals for optimal menopausal hormone health.

In addition to this practice, she also has experience in peer review, quality work, credentialing, medical director leadership, and utilization management. She works part-time at the Boise VA, training residents and medical students on the inpatient service, and she is a Clinical Instructor in the University of Washington's School of Medicine.

Dr. Huntington endeavors to practice the same principles in her own life as she recommends to her patients. She enjoys time outdoors in nature, mentoring colleagues on building their practices, down-to-earth travel, and time with family and inspiring friends.

Center for TMJ and Sleep Solutions NW

Topic: Myofascial Workshop

Stephen Carstensen, DDS, is a skilled dentist serving patients in Bellevue, Washington. He also serves as a consultant to the American Dental Association for sleep-related breathing disorders and co-author of a textbook for dentists treating the disease.

In 1983, Dr. Carstensen graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in Houston, Texas. Afterward, he and his wife, Midge, a dental hygienist, started a private general dentistry practice in Texas before moving to native Seattle in 1990.

In 1996 he achieved a fellowship in the Academy of General Dentists in recognition of over 3000 hours of advanced education in dentistry, with an increasing amount of time in practice and classwork devoted to sleep medicine.

A lifelong educator, Dr. Carstensen is currently the sleep education director for both Pankey Institute and Spear Education, recognized as among the finest places for dentists to further their education.

As a volunteer leader for the American Dental Association, he was a program chairman and general chairman for the Annual Session, the biggest educational event the association sponsors.

For the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, he’s been a board member, secretary-treasurer, and president-elect. In 2006 he achieved certification from the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine.

Director, Sleep Medicine Institute St. Luke's Health System

Topic: Sleep in the ICU

Dr. Jeffrey Lin is board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary disease, critical care medicine, and sleep medicine. Dr. Lin earned his bachelor's degree in microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin. After medical school, he pursued a Sleep Medicine Fellowship at Stanford University Medical Center and later obtained a master of business administration in health care from Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Lin moved back to Idaho in 2017 and is currently the medical director of the St. Luke’s Sleep Medicine Institute in Magic Valley.

Director, Sleep Medicine Institute St. Luke’s Heath System

Topics: Sleep with the enemy

Oleg S. Kouskov, MD, MCR serves as director of pediatric sleep services with St. Luke’s Sleep Medicine Institute and co–director of the pulmonary nodule program. Dr. Kouskov earned his medical degree from the Belarusian State Medical University in Minsk, Belarus, and his master's degree in clinical research from Oregon Health & Science University. He completed general practice training and worked for several years in Zimbabwe and Botswana, seeing both adults and children, and performed his internal medicine residency through Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. He completed training in pulmonary and critical care medicine and fellowships in sleep medicine and lung cancer/research at Oregon Health & Science University.

Supervisor

Sanford Health

Topic: Seizures in Sleep

I supervise two departments that run as one. I also participate in patient care. I sit on the ABRET volunteer leadership and development committee. I am the Education Chair for CSET. I am the President Elect for the Montana Sleep Society. I enjoy teaching others, speaking at conferences, and helping others find their passion.
In my current role I handle our AASM and ABRET lab accreditations, as well as keeping us joint commission ready. I still take care of patients as well and am part of call rotation.
It’s a busy life but I love it!

Director of Pharmacy, St. Luke’s Medical Center

Topic: St. Luke’s approach to GLP-1 Medications

Pharmacy Program Coordinator, St. Luke’s Medical Center

Topic: GLP-1 as treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Dr Stefany Shimada completed her undergrad at Cal Poly, Doctor of Pharmacy at University of the Pacific, and then residency at Veterans Affairs Palo Alto. After residency, she worked in various settings such as antibiotic stewardship, diabetes, anticoagulation, & adult psychiatry. She is a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist, certified diabetes educator, and currently works as the Drug Utilization Coordinator for St. Luke’s Health System’s ambulatory providers. Dr Shimada is passionate about sharing drug education in hopes of promoting safe, cost-effective, evidence-based prescribing.

Center for Orofacial Myology

Topic: Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Rian Chatterton has worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist for the past 14-years. Rian has worked in a variety of settings. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology in 2002 from Idaho State University. In 2004 she completed her Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathologist from Idaho State University. Rian has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of communication disorders. She has specialized in areas of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders. Rian took over ownership of Boise Speech and Hearing Clinic in the summer of 2013.
Rian holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and a State of Idaho License for Speech Language Pathology. In 2016 Rian completed her certification process with the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) and is now 1 of 2 Certified Orofacial Myologists in the state of Idaho.

Doctor of Physical Therapy, Craniofacial Certified Specialist, Oral Myofunctional Therapist

Topic: Appropriate Physical Therapy Referrals as a Collaborative Airway Provider

Lenore Filler Morrissey was born and raised in the Los Angeles area.  She earned her undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology at Whittier College in 1993. Lenore was accepted into the Feinberg School of Medicine Program in Physical Therapy at Northwestern University and graduated with her Master of Physical Therapy Degree in 1998.   Upon returning to California, she worked in a variety of settings and treated patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings.  In addition, she participated in a year-long manual physical therapy course after which she achieved her Orthopedic Certified Specialty from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists 2004.  Then in 2005, Lenore opened and operated a private outpatient orthopedic physical therapy practice in Rancho Palos Verdes for 11 years.  During this time, she attended many continuing education courses including functional movement athletic testing, kineseotaping techniques, sarco-iliac joint dysfunction coursework, foot and ankle injury and orthotic prescription and fabrication to name a few.  While running her practice, she saw a growing need for expertise in head, TMJ and neck disorders and its relationship to airway dysfunction.  In 2012, she studied oral myofunctional therapy under Joy Moeller, BS, RDH a leading international instructor in this field.  In the following few years, she earned her Certification as a Craniofacial Specialist under the training of renowned expert in craniofacial and temporomandibular disorders, Mariano Rocabado via the University of St. Augustine.  She then went on to receive her transitional doctorate in physical therapy with this university specializing in craniofacial study in 2017.  Lenore is a faculty member for the Airway Focused Dentistry Mini-Residency, a member of American Physical Therapy Association, the California and Idaho Physical Therapy Associations, the Academy of Applied Myofunctional Sciences, the Foundation for Airway Health and the American Academy of Applied Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry.  She continues study in postural respiration and cranial-cervical dysfunction with the Postural Restoration Institute® and more recently with Applied Integration Academy® , the Laynee Restorative Breathing Method, craniosacral therapy with Upledger Institute, oral myofunctional therapy with the Academy of Applied Myofunctional Sciences, Oxygen Advantage/Buteyko Breathing method with Patrick McKeown and capnometry and upper airway disorders under many others renowned in the field of airway dysfunction to bring an integrated knowledge that is unique in physical therapy.  She focuses her practice on recognizing dysfunctional postural patterns by careful assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal alignment including craniomandibular strains, occlusal considerations and importantly, oral myofunction. She is currently authoring two chapters in dental text books with emphasis on physical and oral myofunction. 

 She resides in Boise, ID most of the year where she has a solo practice and travels to treat patients both in Los Angeles and Orange Counties throughout the year.  Her mantra; “Total body well-being begins with a patent airway in concert with proper alignment and function of the structures of the head, neck, thorax, pelvis and tongue.”