Heidi Riney, MD, D.ABPN

MEDICAL DIRECTOR, BOARD-CERTIFIED IN SLEEP MEDICINE AND NEUROLOGY

Dr. Riney is board-certified in sleep medicine and neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals (GASP) and National Sleep Foundation (NSF), where she serves on the Public Affairs Committee.

She completed her medical training at Wake Forest, neurology residency and neurophysiology fellowship at Emory University and sleep medicine fellowship at FusionSleep. During her neurology residency, Dr. Riney taught neuroanatomy courses and led small group clinical cases with second year Emory medical students. She was also involved in research, looking at concentric-needle single-fiber electromyography for the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.

After her neurology residency, Dr. Riney completed a clinical neurophysiology fellowship at Emory University. During her fellowship, Dr. Riney led weekly lectures with neurology residents on topics related to electromyography and electroencephalography.

Dr. Riney currently evaluates adults and children with sleep, wake, and circadian rhythm problems at the Atlanta North location.

David Pitts, MD, D.ABO

BOARD-CERTIFIED IN SLEEP MEDICINE AND OTOLARYNGOLOGY

Dr. Pitts is board-certified in sleep medicine and otolaryngology (American Board of Otolaryngology). He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, and the Academies of Sleep Medicine (AASM), Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery (AAHNS), and Otolaryngologic Allergy (AAOA).

Dr. Pitts received his undergraduate education at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas with a B.S. in Biology and his medical degree (MD) from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio, Texas. He completed his internship in general surgery and internal medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon followed by an otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat) residency with Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California.

During his residency, he spent several months in Nigeria, where he worked with local physicians and patients. This experience allowed him to gain an understanding of diseases that are not commonly encountered in the United States.

He began his fellowship in sleep medicine at the FusionSleep Center in August of 2008.

Dr. Pitts currently evaluates adults and children with sleep, wake and circadian rhythm problems at the Johns Creek location.

Parina S. Aggarwal, MD, D.ABIM

BOARD-CERTIFIED IN SLEEP MEDICINE AND INTERNAL MEDICINE

Dr. Aggarwal is a board-certified sleep physician with expertise in internal medicine. She earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at Georgia Tech. During her time there, she worked in the biomedical engineering research lab, examining the sheer stress of both porcine and mechanical heart valves. This experience, coupled with a volunteering experience at Grady Hospital, led her to pursue a career in medicine. Subsequently, she attended Emory University School of Medicine. As a medical student, she investigated airway inflammation in obese patients with asthma.

She completed a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in sleep medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. During her residency in internal medicine and fellowship in sleep medicine, she was involved in pulmonary and sleep medicine research. She authored a review on genetic testing in pulmonary diseases, as well as a review on portable apnea testing.

After her training, Dr. Aggarwal worked as a hospitalist for a year at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, where she was involved in the treatment and management of patients admitted for acute illnesses.

Dr. Aggarwal joined FusionSleep in 2013 and served as FusionHealth Medical Director for 3 years, developing telehealth protocols for sleep health programs sponsored by various corporations for their employees, providing assessment, study interpretation, and medical management of remote patients, and working closely with field and technology teams to develop task driven protocols through the use of technology. Her clinical and research interests include obesity hypoventilation syndrome, chronic disease associated with sleep disordered breathing, and the treatment of sleep disordered breathing as a means for disease prevention.

She currently spends most of her time at FusionSleep providing consultative and follow up assessments as well as diagnostic interpretations for patients.

Pranathi Kondapaneni, MD, MPH, D.ABPN

Board-certified in Sleep Medicine and Neurology

Dr. Kondapaneni is board-certified in sleep medicine and neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

At the age of sixteen, she was accepted into medical school through a combined BA/MD program. By twenty-four, she had completed four degrees in seven years: two bachelor of arts degrees (economics and biology), a master’s in public health, and a medical degree. After completing a residency in neurology and a fellowship in sleep at FusionSleep and the other in epilepsy at Emory Healthcare. Following her fellowships, Dr. Kondapaneni went into private practice.

In 2020, Dr. Kondapaneni returned to FusionSleep to focus on helping patients achieve healthier sleep and better overall health outcomes. Apart from her clinical duties as a board-certified sleep-medicine neurologist, Dr Kondapaneni also has experience in utilization management and disability review. She is currently licensed in Georgia and Illinois.

Additionally, she has authored two books: "Prescription Technology -- Opening Physician-Patient Communication Channels" Pub. 2020. and “Prescription Comedy -- An Unlikely Antidote To Physician Burnout" Pub. 2021.

At FusionSleep, Dr. Kondapaneni provides telemedicine services, including patient consultations, diagnostic interpretations and follow-up assessments.

Cecile Martin, FNP-BC, MS, RN

Cecile is an advanced practice provider, board-certified as a family nurse practitioner, who has devoted the majority of her career to the specialty of sleep medicine. She completed her graduate studies in Atlanta at Georgia State University in 2006. Her background in nursing includes emergency and intensive care. Cecile thrives on caring for patients of all ages and medical issues, yet her passion in practice has been with sleep medicine for over a decade.

Once Cecile saw the incredible changes a patient could experience when sleep issues were treated effectively, she realized the critical need in the health care community to offer healthy sleep treatment as a critical part of her health care delivery.

She currently works with FusionSleep in Johns Creek and Sandy Springs, Georgia seeing patients with any complexity of sleep disorders. She manages and treats them from diagnosis, through the complete treatment process, to ensure each of her patients receives the maximum health benefit possible.

Cecile recognizes that education and information regarding all aspects of sleep is necessary to create awareness in the community. She accomplishes this through a variety of platforms. Cecile has been teaching both in structured conference settings, to medical practices, individual settings, the local community and nationwide.

Heather Kimsey, FNP-BC, MSN

Heather is a passionate Family Nurse Practitioner dedicated to providing quality care to patients and their families. Since receiving a Master of Science in Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Georgia Southern University, Heather has worked as a full-time nurse practitioner evaluating, treating, and diagnosing sleep disorders, including obstructive and central sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, REM behavior disorder, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, and parasomnias. She also works with patients to make pressure setting adjustments to APAP, BIPAP and ASV machines. Heather delivers care through both in-person and telemedicine visits. She is affiliated with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

April Schmit, FNP-C, ENP-C

April is a highly credentialed nurse practitioner with experience delivering compassionate and high-quality care to patients seeking healthier sleep. In her current role at FusionSleep, April works with patients diagnosed with obstructive and central sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, REM behavior disorder, parasomnias and circadian rhythm sleep disorders.

Prior to joining FusionSleep, April served as an emergency nurse practitioner at Emory hospital in Decatur, Georgia. At Emory, she managed complex patients that require critical care in time sensitive and demanding environments. Throughout her career, she has worked with patients of all ages, from infants to older adults.

April received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Georgia/Medical College of Georgia and her Master of Science in Nursing: Family and Emergency Nurse Practitioner from Emory University.

Her certifications include Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C), Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP-C), Certified Emergency Nurse Specialization (CEN), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).

Evan Gilchrist, MSN, RN

Evan is a multidisciplinary advanced practice registered nurse with significant experience delivering exceptional patient care in both the hospital and health clinic settings. At FusionSleep, Evan works with patients diagnosed with sleep disorders to provide ongoing follow-up care and support to help patients sleep and feel better.

Before joining FusionSleep, Evan served as a nurse practitioner at Emory Decatur Hospital and Emory Hillandale Hospital in Decatur, Georgia. Prior to this, he worked as a traveling registered nurse, with assignments in Hawaii, Illinois, Washington and California. He began his career as a staff registered nurse at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta where he was promoted to a full-time charge nurse within one year of employment, managing a 20-bed nursing unit within the 90-bed emergency department.

Evan received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Georgia, his Master of Science in Nursing/Clinical Nurse Leadership from Augusta University and his Post Master’s Certificate (PMC) as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Georgia State University. He holds active
RN and APRN licensure and additional certifications include Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).