Kathleen Sarmiento

Kathleen Sarmiento is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and serves as the Executive Director for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) National Sleep Medicine Program Office. Her work bridges clinical practice, research, and innovation in sleep medicine with a focus on improving access for Veterans through telehealth and hub-spoke partnerships.

• Education: MD/MPH from Tulane University, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine training at University of Maryland, and leadership training from multiple institutions including the Interagency Institute for Federal Health Leaders.

Research Focus: Dr. Sarmiento's research centers on optimizing sleep apnea care through de-implementation of low-value visits, home sleep apnea testing (HSAT), and virtual care models. Her work addresses comorbidities like CHF, COPD, stroke, insomnia, PTSD, and depression, while exploring AI integration in clinical workflows.

Recent Publications: Analyze trends in OSA severity, HSAT accuracy across comorbidities, TeleSleep program effectiveness, and the intersection of PTSD with sleep therapy adherence. These studies span journals in neurology, psychophysiology, pulmonary medicine, and health services research.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Interagency Institute for Federal Health Leaders (2024)
  • ATS Young Investigator Award (2015)
  • Multiple VHA Innovation Awards (2017-2023)
  • Federal Employee of the Year (2019)

Collaborations: Works with institutions including VA San Francisco, UCSD, and University of Maryland. Current projects evaluate TeleSleep program sustainment, hospital-to-home transitions, and non-invasive ventilation impacts.