Douglas Kirsch, MD

“Sleep is just as important to health as a good diet and exercise. I enjoy guiding people to have a better night’s sleep because it can have a dramatic impact on their well-being and overall happiness.”

Dr. Kirsch is the medical director of sleep medicine at Atrium Health. He is also an Atrium Health professor of internal medicine and neurology, and a clinical professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of North Carolina. He has served as the president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and is a fellow for both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Neurology.

Dr. Kirsch was always interested in biology, but got an emotional lift when he was a college student and volunteered at a small, rural school in Vermont. That experience helped him realize he was best suited to use his interests and skills in helping people, which attracted him to the medical field.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Massachusetts. He completed his residency at the University of Rochester and a fellowship at the University of Michigan.

From a research perspective, he’s investigating the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea on patient hospitalizations. He’s also doing research on the use of consumer devices to evaluate sleep while patients are at home.

In his free time, he likes spending time with his wife and 2 children. He enjoys rooting for his hometown Boston sports teams, reading mysteries, solving puzzles and photography.