Airway First

S8:E74 - Dr. Kevin Coppelson: The Breathe Institute and Orthognathic Surgery

My guest today is Dr. Kevin Coppelson. Dr. Kevin Coppelson is a board-certified and fellowship-trained Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon practicing at The Breathe Institute in Southern California. He practices a broad range of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery- with a focus on skeletal augmentation for the treatment of maxillofacial deformities and sleep-related breathing disorders. 
Dr. Coppelson brings the knowledge and experience necessary to stay on the cutting edge of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. 
Dr. Coppelson's highly specialized training provides him with expertise on procedures ranging from corrective jaw surgery, minimally invasive jaw expansion, dental implants, and management of wisdom teeth.
You can find out more about Dr. Coppelson at drcoppelson.com.
Show Notes:
MIND Technique
Airway Health Research Downloads from The Breathe Institute
The Breathe Institute
 

S8:E73 - Maggie Lavender, MSN, RN, FNP-C: Sleep, Narcolepsy, and Kid's Health

My guest today is Maggie Lavender - a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner licensed in Texas with specialization in Sleep Disorders Medicine and Neurology.
 
She attended Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She began her career working in a pediatric intensive care and burn unit. She later moved to Houston, Texas and continued her career in a neuroscience intensive care unit at a level one trauma center. She then completed her Master of Science in Nursing and Post-Master’s Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certificate simultaneously at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Her Nurse Practitioner career began in Houston, Texas at Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associates (CSMA) alongside Dr. Jerald Simmons, beginning in 2012. Maggie has evolved to be a recognized Nurse Practitioner specialist on a national level, and currently functions as a consultant and lecturer on the management of narcolepsy patients.
 
She is currently practicing again at CSMA and is specializing in comprehensive sleep disorders, neurology, and epilepsy. You can find out more about Maggie a csma.clinic.
 
Show Notes:
International Pediatric Sleep Association (ISPA)
SEC Dental Sleep Conference
World Sleep Conference 2025
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine

S8:E72 - Natalie Udwin: Getting to the Root Cause with Occupational Therapy

My guest today is Occupational Therapist, Natalie "Nat" Udwin. Nat is an infant development, airway and reflexive feeding specialist. Most people know them on Instagram as "Nat The Baby OT".
Nat has a B.A. in Studio Art from Whitman College and a M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Milligan College and has been an OT for 12 years.  They have specialized in infant development for 7 years now.
Nat, alongside some incredible mentors and colleagues, has spent the past 7 years mastering their understanding of infant development to not only become an infant development specialist, but to create what is now the foundation of Áha OT - a holistic airway focused approach to therapy - for children of all ages.  
You can find out more about Nat at ahaotcollab.podia.com or on Instagram at nat_thebabyot.
 
Show Notes:
The First 1,000 Days: A Crucial Time for Mothers and Children, by Roger Thurow
The TummyTime! Method with Michelle Emanuel
Campfire Chats with Nat

S8:E71 - Dr. Claire Stagg: Everything Starts with the Mouth

My guest today is Dr. Claire Stagg. Dr. Stagg's academic journey began at the University of Bordeaux, France, where she earned her Doctorate in Dental Surgery (DDS) in 1982. With a relentless thirst for knowledge, she has amassed over 2,700 hours of additional training, with an emphasis in TMJ / Sleep Disorders, Orthopedics, and Dental Rehabilitation. Her quest for excellence led her to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she attained a Master’s of Science focusing on Craniofacial Pain in 2011.
Renowned for her pioneering work, Dr. Stagg has been a trailblazer since her early days, being the first to pass the Trinidad Dental Board Examinations post-graduation and facilitating significant advancements in dental care delivery in Grenada. Her credentials are further highlighted by her Fellowship in the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain and her innovative contributions to Craniofacial Epigenetics and nonsurgical airway remodeling.
Dr. Stagg's practice is not just about treating teeth but nurturing the person behind the smile. She believes in the intrinsic connection of the mouth to the body's overall health and strives for a balance that enhances vital functions — breathing, swallowing, eating, and smiling. Her integrative approach promotes not just survival but thriving, ensuring a quality of life that resonates with wellness and joy.
With a professional interest that spans Biological, Wholistic, and Cosmetic Dentistry, coupled with a strong emphasis on proper Nutrition, Dr. Stagg is at the forefront of a dental revolution. She is dedicated to providing her patients with healthy, beautiful, and pain-free smiles, demonstrating the deep interrelation between the body and the bite.
You can find out more about Dr. Stagg at HealthConnectionsDentistry.com.
Show Notes:
Smile: It's All Connected, by Dr. Claire Stagg
Resources from Dr. Stagg
Dr. Brendan Stack's Treatment for Complex TMJ Disorders: Watch Video

S8:E70 - Kelley Rubio: Sleep, Breathing, and Mental Health in Children

My guest today is Kelley Rubio, an Arizona native and US Army veteran with a heartfelt commitment to pediatric care since 1996. Her practice has two locations in the Phoenix Valley and she works with patients in person and via Telehealth. As a licensed dental hygienist, she specializes in myofunctional therapy and is a Certified Buteyko Breathing Practitioner.
 
Kelley stays at the forefront of her field through ongoing training, holding a Qualification in Orofacial Myology. What sets Kelley apart is not just her expertise but also the genuine connections she forms with each patient. Her passion for orofacial myology is driven by the meaningful relationships she builds.
 
You can find out more about Kelley at mymyomyhealth.com.
 
Show Notes:
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, by Dr. Peter Attia
Airway MamaBears - CAFF Store
Buteyko Breathing Techniques
Oral Health in America - Surgeon General's Report 2021
Protecting Youth Mental Health - Surgeon General's Statement 2021
National Alliance of Mental Illness Website: www.nami.org 
Airway Palooza 2024
SEC Sleep Conference 2024
Collaboration Cures 2024

S7:E69 - Dr. Mark Levi: Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine

My guest today is Dr. Mark Levi. Dr. Levi has over 30 years experience as a Dentist, and over 20 years in Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine. He is a member of the Australasian Sleep Association, American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and European Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.
As a former sufferer of Sleep Apnea, Dr. Levi understands the problem from all perspectives, and has the technical expertise to provide the best customizes and appropriate solution to suit his patient's individual needs. He has trained in the US with many of the world's leading Sleep Experts and can often be seen on national television and lecturing around the world!
You can find out more about Dr. Mark Levi at drlevis.com.au.
Show Notes:
Dr. Mark Levi website
Finding Connor Video
Foundation for Airway Health
Breathe, Sleep, Thrive: Discover How Airway Health Can Unlock Your Child's Greater Health, Learning, and Potential by Dr. Shereen Lim

S7:E68: Special SEC Guest Panel - Sleep and Airway Education for Parents

Today's episode is a bit different in that I have invited a panel of luminaries and medical professionals who are passionate about airway and sleep health. Each of today's guests participated, in some form or fashion, in the SEC Sleep Conference that was held in Houston, Texas earlier this month.
Our special guest panel includes:
Dr. Jerald H. Simmons - Founding Director at Comprehensive Sleep Medicine Associations, PA and the Sleep Education Consortium
Dr. Bill Harrell - President and Orthodontist at Harrell Orthodontics, TMJ, Dental Sleep Medicine
Dr. David McCarty, FAASM - Author, Speaker, Cartoonist, and Podcast Host of the Empowered Sleep Apnea Series
Jatin Tekchandani, MSBEME, R.EEG T., RPSGT - Vice President of the Texas Society of Sleep Professionals
Dr. Rob Veis - CEO at SML Global
Show Notes:
SEC Sleep Conference
CSMA
CSMA Sleep Questionnaire
Airway Circle
Airway Health Solutions
AAPMD
ADA
AASM
Facebook Airway Huddle - Parent Support Group
Facebook Tooth Pillow Parent Group
The Breathing-Smile Connection by Dr. William Harrell: Article

S7:E67 - Dr. Julia Sadove-Lopez: Helping Parents Find Support

My guest today is Dr. Julia Sadove-Lopez. Dr. Julia is a biological dentist, accredited by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. She attended dental school in Indiana, where she first began her dental career. She went on to practice dentistry for several years at a holistic dental practice in Chicago. She was able to work closely in collaboration with Dr. Kevin Boyd, even serving as a research assistant for his anthropology research with the Penn Museum.
Dr. Julia was practicing general dentistry, while still offering services like infant frenectomies. Her passion for identifying and referring young patients to seek early interceptive solutions became one of her favorite parts of her profession. She has since created her own consulting business, Oris Wellness, to offer customized one-on-one support for parents in the topics surrounding airway dentistry.
More recently, Dr. Julia relocated with her family to Portugal. She is enjoying learning about how the perspectives and services that are offered in Europe vary from the training she received formerly in the US. 
You can find out more about Dr. Julia at oriswellness.com.
Show Notes:
Dr. Julia Sadove-Lopez: Website
Breathe, Sleep, Thrive: Discover How Airway Health Can Unlock Your Child's Greater Health, Learning, and Potential, by Dr. Shereen Lim
Brave Parent: Raising Healthy, Happy Kids Against All Odds in Today's World, by Dr. Susan Maples
Sleep Wrecked Kids: Helping Parents Raise Happy, Healthy Kids, One Sleep at a Time, by Sharon Moore
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor
Wrigleyville Dental (Chicago, IL)
 

S7:E66 - Jackie Christansen: When Normal Isn't Norma - A Paren't Story

My guest today is Jackie Christiansen, a Danish mom who moved to the United States in 2018 with her husband.
She and her family now live in Houston, Texas with their four-year-old daugher, Laura, who has been diagnosed with sleep disordered breathing.
In Denmark, Jackie was a registered nurse and Certified Health Coach. She is now a stay-at-home mom who enjoys volunteering at her daughter's school.
Show Notes:
Dr. Jerald Simmons, CSMA
ATS Sleep Questionnaire for Children
Dr. Todd Scheyer
Dr. Shereen Lim - Airway First Podcast Episode
Brittny Murphy - Airway First Podcast Episode
James Nestor, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art - Airway First Podcast Episode
Dr. David Alfi
Dr. Christopher Tran

S7:E62 - Dr. Tracy Tran: Tongue-Ties and The NegativeImpacts of Compensation Due to Oral Dysfunction

My guest today is Dr. Tracy Tran. Dr. Tran is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist who specializes in infant & pediatric oral ties, as well as pediatric sleep issues. She is a Michigan native who first landed in Southern California to attend dental school at USC's Ostrow School of Dentistry.
After graduation, Dr. Tran went on to complete a 1-year general practice residency where she received additional training in all aspects of dentistry, with an emphasis in oral surgery. She performed surgical procedures in maxillofacial trauma under the attending of Oromaxillofacial, ENT and plastic surgeons. During the following two years, Dr. Tran continued her specialty training in pediatric dentistry, while completing her Master’s in Biomedical Science.‍
Since being in private practice, Dr. Tran has focused her continuing education on pediatric tethered oral tissue (TOTs) and its relationship with oral dysfunction in order to diagnose orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). This includes difficulties with infant nursing, toddler feeding & swallowing, speech articulation, and pediatric sleep disordered breathing. She has successfully treated these patients through a collaborative team approach, and continues to expand her knowledge and experience in this niche specialty.
She is also proud to contribute to the advancement of academics by volunteering her time teaching at USC as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Dental Public Health & Pediatric Dentistry.
You can find out more about Dr. Tran at drtracytran.com.
Show Notes:
Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT)
Dr. Marielly Mitchell, OTD, OTR/L, SWC, SIPT
Dr. Tracy Tran: drtracytran.com
NIH: Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion Compared with Orthopedic Rapid Maxillary Expansion Article