Karen Parker Davidson
Karen Parker Davidson, DHA, MSA, M.Ed., MSN, RN
Airway Clinical Nurse Specialist, Professor/SME of Health Policy and Reimbursement
USA
Dr. Karen Parker Davidson, RN is the Founder of ISAFDT and an internationally recognized Airway Clinical Nurse Specialist and a leading expert in nasal function, airway health, objective measurements and diagnostics, and medical innovation. As one of only two experts worldwide to advance 4-phase rhinomanometry, she pioneered the use of nasal resistance as a fifth vital sign and biomarker in clinical treatment protocols. Her groundbreaking work spans sleep medicine, surgery, orthodontics, and dentistry, focusing on objective nasal measurements to guide treatment decisions, monitor clinical progress, and ensure long-term stability.
A leader in airway diagnostics and artificial intelligence, Dr. Davidson developed Airway AI, an advanced platform leveraging real-time nasal and airway measurement data for improved diagnosis and treatment outcomes. She also created several pioneering methods, including the Davidson Maneuver for external nasal valve assessment, the FACT Method™, the MAVERICK Nasal Exam™, the DAFNE Score, and TAMI™, integrating AI-driven airway assessment, clinical algorithms, and specialty collaboration. Her research has established critical links between nasal flow limitations, airway resistance, posture, PTSD, disruptive nocturnal behavior, bruxism, neuromodulating oral devices, and hypoglossal nerve stimulation.
With over 30 years of experience in advanced clinical nursing, medical device development, and healthcare consulting, Dr. Davidson serves as Vice President of GM Instruments, Ltd. and consults for various medical and technology companies. She is the founder of FACT Healthcare Consulting Group, LLC, co-founder of MedTec Research, and a research partner with the Harrison COVID-19 Research Group. She also served as a Flight Nurse and Critical Care Nurse in the United States Air Force Reserves with the 315th and 459th Air Wings. Her leadership extends to executive and advisory roles with nonprofit organizations such as The Healthcare Navigation Project, the Children’s Airway First Foundation, and the Nasal Health Council. She also serves as an editorial board member, peer reviewer, and panel expert for multiple medical journals and publications.
A highly respected educator, Dr. Davidson is an adjunct professor at Liberty University and Central Michigan University. She teaches courses in health policy, grant writing, and medical reimbursement at both the master’s and doctoral levels. She has also led numerous workshops, seminars, and residency training programs in airway-focused disciplines.
Her contributions to airway research and healthcare innovation have earned her national recognition. She was awarded the 2020 Outstanding Dissertation Award from Central Michigan University for her research on healthcare reimbursement practices and nominated for the Carolina Nursing Alumni Award (2023). In 2022, she was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Washington, DC, by Women We Admire. Additionally, her work in airway emergency innovation contributed to a National Science Foundation award, recognized in a formal commendation from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (March 2024).
Dr. Davidson is the author of My Little Nose: Where the Air Goes, the first book in a children’s series on nasal function and breathing, and co-author of future releases The Power of the Tongue: In the Beginning, We Were All Tongue-Tied and Sleep Apnea and Pregnancy: The Female Response to Sleep Breathing Disorders. She has contributed chapters to key medical publications, including Sleep, Craniofacial Form, Airway Function Disorders: An Interdisciplinary Approach for Assessment, Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention (2025), and The Clinician’s Handbook for Dental Sleep Medicine (2nd ed.). She is also co-editor of Remote Monitoring and Wearable Devices in Healthcare (2025).
Dr. Davidson holds a Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) with a focus on Health Policy from Central Michigan University, along with three master’s degrees in Nursing, Health Services Administration, and Education. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration (International Business). She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.
A sought-after international speaker, Dr. Davidson is a guest lecturer for dental and orthodontic residency programs, a frequent podcast guest, and a speaker bureau member for airway and sleep medicine conferences. Her work has led to multiple patents, copyrights, and trademarks in nasal function measurement and AI-driven diagnostics.
Dr. Davidson is the author of Breathe Through Your Nose, Don’t Pay Through It: The Impact the Healthcare Industry Has on Nasal Function and How We Breathe and My Little Nose: Where the Air Goes, the first book in a children’s series on nasal function and breathing, and co-author of future releases The Power of the Tongue: In the Beginning, We Were All Tongue-Tied and Sleep Apnea and Pregnancy: The Female Response to Sleep Breathing Disorders. She has contributed chapters to key medical publications, including Sleep, Craniofacial Form, Airway Function Disorders: An Interdisciplinary Approach for Assessment, Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention (2025), and The Clinician’s Handbook for Dental Sleep Medicine (2nd ed.) (2025), Healthcare Informatics Innovation Post-COVID-19 Pandemic (2025), and Health Informatics and Patient Safety in Times of Crisis (2023). She is also the Co-Editor of Remote Monitoring and Wearable Devices in Healthcare (2025).
