Cleveland Clinic Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Course 2026

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HNS) Course 2026 | Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) | Sleep Surgery | Inspire Therapy | Patient Selection, DISE, Implantation & Post-Implant Care

Course Overview

The Cleveland Clinic Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Course 2026 is a specialized, one-day educational program focused on hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), covering patient evaluation, selection, surgical implantation, device management, and postoperative care.

The Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center is the first academic medical center in the nation to be designated as an Inspire Center of Excellence.

This immersive educational program, preceding the Wake Up to Sleep Disorders 2026: A Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center Update, is designed to train sleep medicine and otolaryngology specialists in the evaluation, selection, implantation, and post-operative management of patients undergoing HNS therapy.

Through expert-led presentations, multidisciplinary case discussions, and device programming sessions, the program addresses the clinical and surgical aspects of HNS and strategies for developing a successful multidisciplinary treatment program.

Course Details

• Course Title: Cleveland Clinic Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Course 2026
• Organizer: Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education
• Institution: Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center
• Date: October 1, 2026
• Location: Cleveland Clinic Administrative Campus, Beachwood, Ohio, USA
• Format: In-Person and Live Stream Educational Program
• Duration: One-Day Course
• Specialties: Sleep Medicine, Otolaryngology, Sleep Surgery, Neurology
• Main Focus: Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• CME Status: Non-CME Educational Activity

Target Audience

This educational activity is designed for:

• Sleep medicine fellows
• Practicing physicians
• Advanced practice providers
• Otolaryngology residents
• Sleep medicine specialists
• Otolaryngologists and sleep surgeons
• Healthcare professionals interested in sleep surgery and hypoglossal nerve stimulation

Program Overview

The Cleveland Clinic Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Course 2026 provides multidisciplinary education covering the clinical application of HNS therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Participants explore the evolution of sleep surgery, evidence-based HNS patient selection, pre-implant assessment, drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), surgical techniques, postoperative treatment pathways, and HNS device programming.

Additional sessions address pediatric HNS therapy, co-morbid insomnia with sleep apnea (COMISA), optimization of clinical outcomes, and the development of multidisciplinary HNS programs.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the evolution, mechanism, and clinical indications for hypoglossal nerve stimulation.
2. Apply evidence-based criteria for patient selection and pre-implant screening.
3. Understand DISE and surgical implant procedure.
4. Deliver optimal perioperative and post-implant care to maximize patient outcomes.
5. Address special considerations in pediatric and COMISA (Co-morbid Insomnia with Sleep Apnea) patient populations.
6. Develop strategies to initiate and grow a multidisciplinary HNS program.

Official Program Topics

Thursday, October 1, 2026

Morning Sessions

7:00–7:45 AM — Registration & Continental Breakfast

7:45–8:00 AM — Welcome & Introduction

• Vaishal Shah, MD

8:00–8:30 AM — Past, Present & Future: Evolution of Sleep Surgery & HNS

• Alan Kominsky, MD

8:30–9:00 AM — Screening, Patient Selection & Pre-Implant Care

• Brian Chen, MD

9:00–9:15 AM — Break & Potpourri

• Noordeep Panesar, MD, MHS, MS

9:15–9:45 AM — DISE, Implant Procedure & Surgical Outcomes

• Vaibhav Ramprasad, MD

9:45–10:15 AM — Post-Implant Care Path & Patient Outcomes

• Vaishal Shah, MD

10:15–10:45 AM — Break & Potpourri

• Noordeep Panesar, MD, MHS, MS

10:45–11:45 AM — How to Develop a Successful HNS Program: Guided Panel

• Vaishal Shah, MD
• Alan Kominsky, MD

11:45 AM–12:30 PM — Optimizing Outcomes Through Multidisciplinary Team – Interactive Cases

• Margaret Heidenreich, MSN, APRN
• Christen Cheuvront, MSN, APRN
• Eric Yeh, MD

Afternoon Sessions

12:30–1:30 PM — Lunch

• Inspire Patient Panel

1:30–2:00 PM — Pediatric HNS

• Brandon Hopkins, MD

2:00–2:30 PM — COMISA and HNS

• Michelle Drerup, PsyD

2:30–4:15 PM — Hands-on Programming Breakout Sessions

• Inspire Support Specialist
• Live Stream attendees observation only

4:15 PM — Adjourn

4:45–7:00 PM — Reception and Dinner

• Cleveland Clinic Inspire Program
• Vaishal Shah, MD

Major Topics Covered

• Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HNS): Evolution, mechanisms, clinical indications, and the role of neurostimulation in OSA treatment.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Management: Clinical evaluation and integration of HNS into multidisciplinary sleep medicine.
• Patient Selection and Screening: Evidence-based eligibility criteria, pre-implant evaluation, and patient preparation.
• Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE): Airway assessment and its role in HNS treatment planning.
• HNS Surgical Implantation: Implant procedures, surgical considerations, and clinical outcomes.
• Post-Implant Management: Postoperative pathways, device management, and treatment optimization.
• HNS Device Programming: Practical approaches to device programming and clinical follow-up.
• Pediatric Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation: Special considerations for pediatric patients.
• COMISA and HNS: Management considerations for patients with co-morbid insomnia and sleep apnea.
• Multidisciplinary HNS Programs: Team-based approaches, interactive clinical cases, and program development.

Course Director and Faculty

Cleveland Clinic Symposium Director

Vaishal Shah, MD, MPH

• Director, Sleep Disorders Center
• Medical Director, HSN Program

Cleveland Clinic Faculty

• Brian Chen, MD — HNS Sleep Medicine Staff
• Christen Cheuvront, MSN, APRN — Nurse Practitioner, HNS Sleep Medicine
• Michelle Drerup, PsyD, DBSM — Director, Behavioral Sleep Medicine
• Margaret Heidenreich, MSN, APRN — Nurse Practitioner, HNS Sleep Medicine
• Brandon Hopkins, MD — Section Head Pediatric Otolaryngology & Pediatric HNS Surgeon
• Alan Kominsky, MD — Head, Section of Surgical Sleep and Snoring
• Noordeep Panesar, MD, MHS, MS — HNS Sleep Medicine Staff
• Vaibhav Ramprasad, MD — HNS Otolaryngology Surgeon
• Eric Yeh, MD — HNS Sleep Medicine Staff

Inspire Medical System Faculty

• Patrick Ortman
• Frank Heuber
• Brett Geib

Why This Course Is Relevant

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation represents an important treatment option for appropriately selected patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

The Cleveland Clinic Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Course 2026 addresses the clinical decision-making and multidisciplinary coordination required for HNS therapy, from patient selection and surgical evaluation to device programming and post-implant care.

The program is particularly relevant to sleep medicine physicians, otolaryngologists, sleep surgeons, and healthcare professionals seeking to expand their understanding of HNS therapy, improve patient management, and develop coordinated HNS treatment pathways.

Short Description

Cleveland Clinic Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Course 2026 is a specialized educational program covering HNS therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, including patient selection, DISE, surgical implantation, postoperative care, device programming, pediatric HNS, and COMISA.

Key Highlights:

• Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center educational program
• Evidence-based HNS patient selection and pre-implant screening
• DISE, surgical implantation, and treatment outcomes
• Post-implant care and HNS device programming
• Pediatric sleep apnea and COMISA considerations
• Multidisciplinary HNS program development
• Expert faculty in sleep medicine and otolaryngology

+ Topics:

Thursday, October 1, 2026 Full-Day Educational Program All times in Eastern Time
7:00–7:45 am	Registration & Continental Breakfast Cleveland Clinic Administrative Campus Building 4, 4th Floor Foyer
7:45–8:00 am	Welcome & Introduction Vaishal Shah, MD
8:00–8:30 am	Past, Present & Future: Evolution of Sleep Surgery & HNS Alan Kominsky, MD
8:30–9:00 am	Screening, Patient Selection & Pre-Implant Care Brian Chen, MD
9:00–9:15 am	Break & Potpourri Noordeep Panesar, MD, MHS, MS
9:15–9:45 am	DISE, Implant Procedure & Surgical Outcomes Vaibhav Ramprasad, MD
9:45–10:15 am	Post-Implant Care Path & Patient Outcomes Vaishal Shah, MD
10:15–10:45 am	Break & Potpourri Noordeep Panesar, MD, MHS, MS
10:45–11:45 am	How to Develop a Successful HNS Program: Guided Panel Vaishal Shah, MD and Alan Kominsky, MD
11:45–12:30 pm	Optimizing Outcomes Through Multidisciplinary Team – Interactive Cases Margaret Heidenreich, MSN, APRN, Christen Cheuvront, MSN, APRN and Eric Yeh, MD
12:30–1:30 pm	Lunch Inspire Patient Panel
1:30–2:00 pm	Pediatric HNS Brandon Hopkins, MD
2:00–2:30 pm	COMISA and HNS Michelle Drerup, PsyD
2:30–4:15 pm	Hands-on Programming Breakout Sessions* Inspire Support Specialist *Live Stream attendees observation only
4:15 pm	Adjourn
4:45–7:00 pm	Reception and Dinner Cleveland Clinic Inspire Program Vaishal Shah, MD