FEATURED MEMBER: KEVIN SMITH, PhD

Kevin is practicing as a psychologist for Children’s Mercy Kansas City’s Sleep Disorders Center, working with families across the age spectrum from infants-young adulthood. 

How did you decide to specialize in behavioral sleep medicine?

My initial clinical experience in behavioral sleep medicine was a happy accident during my postdoctoral training at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.  When a planned training experience suddenly fell through, I decided to work in the hospital’s Sleep Clinic.  I was supervised by Sleep Clinic psychologist (and then Chief of the Psychology Department) Dr. Tom Linscheid, and pulmonologist and Sleep Clinic Director Dr. Mark Splaingard. I enjoyed it so much that after my fellowship, I accepted a faculty position at NCH and became the Sleep Clinic’s new psychologist, since Dr. Linscheid was retiring that year. 

What is your favorite sleep resource that you would like others to be made aware of?

There are so many great resources out there, but a relatively new one I currently recommend to parents with young children is the website babysleep.com.(Full disclosure: I provided some content when it was first created.)    This website provides comprehensive, evidence-based information from psychologists, physicians, and researchers on infant and toddler sleep that is user-friendly and freely available to the public.    

Do you have any special talents or hobbies?

Talents:  I am good at picking the slowest line at Costco.  (I haven’t figured out a way to market this skill as of yet.)   I also do improvisational comedy.