About Us

We help grow your sleep practice by simplifying OSA treatment with oral appliances

App-Nea has pioneered the next generation of cloud-based Dental Sleep Medicine practice and patient management. App-Nea provides the most innovative suite of software and practice management services, offering a complete end-to-end solution for dentists and physician practices while elevating patient treatment and experience.

Research

View the latest clinical research regarding the efficacy of APP-NEA^TM.

Study of Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) with a Mandibular Advancement Oral Appliance (MAD).

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“Follow-up Clinical Study Testing Application and Effectiveness of the MAD-FIT Algorithm“, Working paper, to be submitted to Sleep.

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Our Executive Team

We help grow your practice by simplifying OSA diagnosis & treatment.

David K. Whitcomb

Co-Founder & Chief Financial Officer

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Dr. Pankaj Singh

Co-Founder & Scientific Director

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Monica Bajaj

Chief Operating Officer

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Dr. Shahid Sharar

Director of Strategic Business Development & Marketing

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Dr. Gerald Awadzi

Director of Education and Clinical Affairs

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Sachen Puri

Chief Technology Officer

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Dr. Shyam C. Shivdasani

Medical Director

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Scientific Advisory Board

Dr. Eric Smith

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Dr. Eric Teller

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Dr. Julian Osorio

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Dr. Bob Mongrain

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Mission & Vision

Our MISSION and we choose to ACCEPT it: To Advance the Science and Practice of Dental Sleep Medicine through Education, Research and State of the Art Treatment Protocols for the Benefit of Mankind.

We do this to serve both healthcare professionals and patients. Through APP-NEA, sleep physicians and dentists can offer services and solutions that will more effectively help their patients and grow their practices. APP-NEA offers a way forward for people who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Snoring. We exist to diminish the barriers that too many encounter on their path to restful sleeps, improved daytime function and greater quality of life.

Benefits of the APP-NEA Workflow

We have compiled the latest clinical research, accurate information and treatment solutions about OSA for patients and providers in one user-friendly online platform.

We seamlessly connect patients to sleep physicians and sleep dentists who are able to diagnose and treat their sleep disordered breathing. This provides sleep physicians and dentists with a network of patients who seek their help.

We provide you with a secure, online portal that provides up-to-date information on your patient's treatment with an oral appliance. Our portal allows dentists and physicians to share diagnosis information and treatment information between practices. Inclusion in our APP-NEA network helps you build your practice with referrals from other medical providers.

We offer unique custom SomnoDent oral appliances personalized to fit each individual user. APP-NEA strives to be a global leader in dental sleep medicine and exists to quell the epidemic of sleep disordered breathing through innovative, simple and scientifically astute solutions and services.

Please be advised that APP-NEA(TM), LLC is a for-profit company. Dentists who use our website pay us a modest fee for the convenience (patients and sleep physicians do not pay us). However, we value scientific information and finding solutions that work for each individual with compromised sleep. We strive to provide you with unbiased and scientifically astute resources and we will not sell you anything that is not right for you. Specifically, if you are diagnosed with "Severe" Obstructive Sleep Apnea, you should try to use a CPAP machine (which we don't sell, but others do), not MAD-FIT. But if you are simply being treated for snoring or have "mild" or "moderate" apnea, an oral appliance like MAD-FIT, along with possible life style changes like losing weight, not smoking, and not drinking excessively, is the recommended treatment.

On this website, we'll give you up-to-date information about snoring and sleep apnea and the different treatment options. Our citations come from reliable, scientifically sound sources. We provide you with links to scientific and clinical research on these issues and the treatment recommendations of responsible professional organizations like the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. If you would like to get in touch with a board-certified sleep physician for a sleep test & diagnosis, we’ll help you find one.

Dr. Pankaj Singh

Co-Founder & Scientific Director

Dr. Pankaj Singh is a recognized authority in the field of dental sleep medicine, oral implantology and oral surgery. He is a dual diplomat of The International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry and served as a board examiner. He is co-founder and faculty at Foundation for Surgical Excellence, a teaching and research foundation and is an international lecturer on dental implants, anesthesia, oral surgery, TMD-jaw pain and facial esthetics.

Dr. Singh is the author of the bestseller textbook “Atlas of Oral Implantology – 3rd edition” by Mosby/Elsevier. He holds several patents and most recently invented the minimally invasive guided implant and harvesting system “Guided Precision Surgery”. He has spent the last 25 years researching the effects of Oral Appliances on airway and Dental Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Singh is a fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and serves as an editor of the Academy’s Research Publication The Journal of Oral Implantology and Neurology and serves on the board or several other publications. He has published numerous original research articles, reports, and has contributed to several textbooks. He is dedicated to researching new avenues for sleep apnea treatment both in dentistry and sleep medicine and is a passionate advocate for developments in Dental Sleep Science. It is among his professional goals to educate dentists on their role in a team approach to treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Never satisfied with the status quo, as chief scientific officer at APP-NEA, LLC, Dr. Singh uses deep machine learning and augmented intelligence to develop self improving predictive algorithms, new technologies and workflow that allow dentists to treat patients with obstructive sleep apnea more effectively and efficiently.

He is an attending doctor at the Department of Otolaryngology and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, NYC. He is also an expert faculty at The New York Head and Neck Institute and at The Center for Facial Reconstruction at Lenox Hill Hospital and the Northwell Health System in New York.

Dr. Singh received his Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY at Stony Brook and Doctor of dental Surgery from New York university College of Dentistry before doing his residency in Dental and Oral Surgery and fellowship in Dental and Oral Implantology at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, and fellowship in Anesthesia at Albert Einstein School of Medicine.

www.DrPankajSingh.com

David K. Whitcomb

Co-Founder & Chief Financial Officer

David Whitcomb is Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Automated Trading Desk, LLC, the pioneer high frequency trading firm. ATD was sold to Citigroup in 2007 and at the time of its sale accounted for 7% of all volume on the NYSE & NASDAQ Stock Markets.

He received a Bachelor of Science in Economics (With Highest Distinction) from Babson College in 1963 and a PhD (With Distinction, Friedman Prize) from Columbia University in 1968. After research/faculty positions at the RAND Corporation, NYU & City University of New York, he joined Rutgers University in 1975 and retired as Professor of Finance Emeritus in 1999. One of the first researchers in the microstructure of securities markets, he has published in all the major finance & economics journals and is listed among the Top 100 researchers in financial economics (1974-1998). His business honors include Entrepreneur of the Year (Regional winner for the Carolinas) and Outstanding Financial Executive (Financial Management Association).

He and his wife and reside in New York City and Honolulu. They are active in charitable endeavors in both places, especially in connection with the Whitcomb Center for Research in Financial Services (Rutgers Univ.) and the Honolulu Museum of Art.

Dr. Shahid Sharar

Director of Strategic Business Development & Marketing

Dr. Sharar, DDS is an esteemed member of the Doctor Mastery Program. The five-year program consists of clinical training conducted by world-renowned clinicians, from building on foundational skills and advancing to mastery of the most complex dental care. He serves as the director of Strategic Business Development & Marketing.

Dr. Sharar brings a stellar career of 20 years in dentistry that has spanned many topics from administrative to clinical problem-solving. Prior to joining Heartland Dental in 2006, Dr. Sharar owned and operated 3 successful practices. Currently, Dr. Sharar serves as the Lead Clinical Doctor Mentor for Heartland Dental and is involved in educating and facilitating young doctors in their career paths.

Dr. Sharar has received extensive training in the art of Aesthetic/Cosmetic Dentistry and Occlusion.Dr. Sharar has also received extensive training in Dental Sleep Medicine which has become a major focus for him for the last 10 years.

Dr. Sharar received his B.Sc. degree in Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and later received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dentistry in 1997.

Dr. Sharar has obtained many accomplishments throughout his career such as:

* 12-time recipient of the prestigious Presidents Club Award from Heartland Dental
* 3-time recipient of the Endodontic/Crown and Bridge Award from Heartland Dental
* Commitment to Education Award from the Illinois School System for supporting education in Illinois
* IV Sedation certified
* Lead Clinical Doctor Mentor
* Member of the Academy of General Dentistry
* Holds licenses in Illinois, Maryland, and Missouri

When Dr. Sharar is not pursuing dentistry, he indulges in many hobbies such as basketball, bowling, miniature golf, and watching movies with his family. Dr. Sharar is married to the love of his life, Aneela, and have 3 amazing children; Sarah, Zahra (twin daughters) and Sami. Currently, Illinois has been home for the family since 2006.

Monica Bajaj

Chief Operating Officer

Monica brings over 20 years of executive, management and legal experience at leading corporations in various industries including healthcare, finance, and compliance. At Morgan Stanley she was the global head of training for the firm’s Global Financial Crimes program. At Citigroup she was the senior compliance officer and senior vice president of the Legal Advisory group. She also served as legal counsel at Merrill Lynch for the investment banking division. Monica was CEO and founder of Premier Consulting, a consulting firm focused on dental and medical practice management for over 11 years.

Monica earned her Juris Doctorate at St. John’s University School of Law, her Master’s degree in International Affairs at Columbia University’s School of International Affairs and her B.A. at Barnard College, Columbia University.

Dr. Gerald Awadzi

Director of Education and Clinical Affairs

Dr. Awadzi is a seasoned dentist of over 20 years, with dedication to cutting edge research and implementation of best clinical practices, while collaborating with industry leading innovators, suppliers and laboratories. He serves as the director of Education and Clinical Affairs. He joined the Heartland Dental Group in 2003 and has managed several dental offices in a number of States, as well as served as a clinical director for the Group since 2006.

Before joining Heartland, he developed, and worked as the dental director of the “Miles for Smiles” Federal Government -funded program at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Missouri for 2 years, and earlier worked as a dentist in Ghana where he began his dental career in Ghana in 1997.

Dr. Awadzi has extensive experience in dental research, having worked as a research associate with the PEARL network at the New York University, and as a biomaterials research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania. He is passionate about training and mentoring other dentists in clinical and leadership roles.

He obtained a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from the University of Ghana Dental School in 1997, Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2001, and an IV Sedation certification from the University of Alabama in 2010.

Dr. Awadzi is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and a member of the American Dental Association, Virginia Dental Association, Northern Virginia Dental Society, American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Awadzi is licensed by the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Hampshire, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina dental Boards.

Dr. Awadzi lives with his lovely wife Elsie and their two adorable sons in Leesburg, Virginia.

Dr. Awadzi is an avid private pilot and soccer player, who loves to coach his sons’ soccer team, and volunteer for church and community activities.

Sachen Puri

Chief Technology Officer

Sachen is the youngest member of Team APP-NEA^TM and is responsible for the entire technical development of the APP-NEA^TM and MAD-FIT^TM application.

He completed his Bachelors in Commerce from Delhi University, New Delhi, India, in 2001 with specialization in finance and marketing.

He started his career as an entrepreneur trading minerals and went on to become an exclusive buying agent for one of the largest coal buyers in China.

Sachen has always been a tech enthusiast and his interest and knowledge in the field led him to the Business Process Outsourcing industry where he went on to successfully set up and run a mid-sized call center that catered to some of the largest Insurance companies in Australia. He single handedly set up the entire technology infrastructure and the front end for this venture.

Dr. Shyam C. Shivdasani

Medical Director

Dr. Shivdasani is an internationally-recognized expert in internal medicine and maintains private practices in New Rochelle and Great Neck, NY where he utilizes a personalized treatment approach consisting of best practices and advanced data analytics.

He is a recognized consultant in general and internal medicine and new technologies and treatments in the US and abroad. He is an international speaker and is an attending physician at Montefiore Hospital - New Rochelle, NY and New York Presbyterian Hospital - Lawrence, NY.

As a dentist, I want to help others obtain their ideal level of oral health and a smile they're proud to show. I also strive to make my patients feel comfortable and at ease while under my care. It’s my goal that every single patient walks away from our office feeling great about themselves, their teeth and our practice.

Indiana University School of Dentistry – Indianapolis, IN
University of Michigan Medical School – Ann Arbor, MI

Continuing Education & Professional Memberships

Dr. Smith has completed advanced training in oral and maxillofacial surgery (2003-2008, University of Michigan), anesthesiology (2008-2009, University of Michigan), advanced cardiac life support and the esthetic continuum.

My team and I practice dentistry in a patient oriented manner. Instead of simply telling you what you need, we listen and address your concerns with understanding and compassion. We firmly believe in providing customized dental care that best suits the individual needs of our patients and striving for first-rate quality in everything we do. The community can count on our attention to detail and our commitment to servicing your dental needs.

Dr. Smith currently resides in Irish Hills, MI, and enjoys all outdoor sports that Michigan has to offer.

August 1998 – May 2002 University of Medicine & Dentistry of N.J. /R.W. Johnson Medical School. Piscataway, NJ Doctor of Medicine.
September 1993 – May 1997 Yeshiva University. New York, NY Bachelor of Arts, Biology, summa cum laude.

Post-Graduate Training

July 2006 – June 2009 Columbia Presbyterian Hospital New York, NY Fellow – Pulmonary/Critical Care
July 2005 – June 2006 University of Medicine & Dentistry of N. J. /R.W. Johnson Medical School. New Brunswick, NJ Chief Resident – Internal Medicine.
July 2002 – June 2005 University of Medicine & Dentistry of N. J. /R.W. Johnson Medical School. New Brunswick, NJ Internal Medicine Residency

Certification

American Board of Internal Medicine, Critical Care Medicine 2009-2019 American Board of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine 2008-2018 American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine 2005-2015 NY Board of Medical Examiners Licensure, 2009-2011 NJ Board of Medical Examiners Licensure, 2009-2011 Drug Enforcement Agency Licensure, 2008-2011 NJ Controlled Dangerous Substance Licensure, 2009-2010 ACLS, 2008-2010 BLS, 2008-2010

Research Experience

ResMed Foundation Grant January 2009 – Present Columbia University Medical Center ROBERT C. BASNER, MD. Awarded research funding for a study of cardiovascular outcomes in acutely decompensated heart failure patients treated for Cheyne-Stokes breathing, an abnormal type of respiration characterized by alternating patterns of shallow and deep breathing, with a corrective technique known as Adaptive Servo-Ventilation (ASV).
Researcher/Lab Technician. June 1997 – August 1998 Albert Einstein College of Medicine BARBARA K.BIRSHTEIN, PHD. Identified transcription regulators, using the yeast-two-hybrid system, that modulate BSAP (B-cell specific activator protein), a transcription factor that represses the hs 1,2 enhancer (one of the four enhancers located at the three prime end of the IgH locus) in B-cells and pre B-cells.
Summer Research Scholar. June 1996 – August 1996 Albert Einstein College of Medicine BARBARA K.BIRSHTEIN, PHD. Explored the mechanisms that govern normal antibody gene rearrangements of B-cells. Investigated the purpose of four gene enhancers and the transcription factors that control enhancer activity in the production of antibodies. Generated a “knockout mouse”, using a two-step PCR, in order to elucidate the function of hs4 (one of the four enhancers located at the three prime end of the IgH locus) in potentially regulating transcriptional and rearrangement processes that affect the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene locus during B-cell development.

Publications

Morganstein N, Doyle-Lindrud S, Goodin S, Shih J, Altscher A, Zager R, Todd M, Durivage H, Teller E, Dipaola R S. “A Phase II Salvage Trial of Transdermal estradiol in the Treatment of Hormone and Chemotherapy Refractory Prostate Cancer.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2004 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings (Post-Meeting Edition), Vol. 22, No. 14S (July 15 Supplement), 2004, page 4695.

Elsayed Y A, Altscher A, Hillard B, Doyle-Lindrud S, Goodin S, Shih W J, Rubin, E H, Teller E, Dipaola R S. “A Phase I/II Trial of 13-Cis Retinoic Acid, Alpha Interferon, Docetaxel, and Estramustine (R.I.T.E.) for the Treatment of Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer (HRPC).” Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2004 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings (Post-Meeting Edition), Vol. 22, No. 14S (July 15 Supplement), 2004, page 4707.

Birshtein B K, Teller E. “Designing a Construct to Knockout the Immunoglobulin HS4 Enhancer.” Sigma Delta Rho Science Research Honors Society – Abstract and Poster Session, 1997, pp. 32-33.

Teller E. “The Changing Face Of Medicine.” Yeshiva University Medical Journal, December 1995, Vol.1, No.2, pp.13-15.

Teller E. “Critical Care.” Nefesh: Undergraduate Health Perspectives, May 1996, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 14-16.

House Doctor, RWJUH, New Brunswick, NJ January 2006 – June 2009 Worked in emergency department admitting patients to the hospital and on the hospital wards evaluating and treating patients and performing necessary procedures (i.e. thoracentesis, paracentesis, central lines, and lumbar punctures). Molecular Biology Lab Teacher, Yeshiva University, New York, NY. August 1997 – May 1998 Developed and taught molecular biology laboratory skills such as PCR, cloning vectors, gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing, and southern blotting to college underclassmen. Supervised and assisted biology research projects for college underclassmen. Extracurricular Activities ACP Challenge Bowl Team, IMRP/RWJUH, New Brunswick, NJ. July 2004 – June 2005 Appointed to be a member of the RWJUH Internal Medicine Residency medical trivia team. Compete against other internal medicine residency programs. PRO-NJ/Pneumonia, St. Peters University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ. July 2003 – June 2005 Participated as a member of PRO-NJ (the Peer Review Organization of New Jersey), an interdisciplinary medical committee at St. Peters University Hospital, created to help improve the quality of health care in the area of pneumonia. Physical Therapy Dept., Hackensack Med. Center, Hackensack, NJ. June 1995 – August 1995 Assisted the physical therapists in the implementation of goals and strategies for patients. Gave emotional support to patients with physical disabilities. Pathology Department, Holy Name Hospital, Teaneck, NJ. June 1995 – August 1995 Dissected human tissue and made microscope slides to be used by the Pathologists in order to determine if the tissue was abnormal.

ResMed Grant, 2009 Dean’s List, Yeshiva University, All semesters 1993-1997 The Rabbi Doctor Danishefsky Honorary Award, May 1997 Who’s Who Guide, 1996-1997 National Dean’s List, 1996-1997 Ernst and Hedwig Roth Scholar, Summer 1996 Yeshiva University Track Team, Fall 1995

Dr. Osorio is one of the pioneers that revolutionized the replacement of missing teeth with dental implants. In 1993, he designed and patented the dental implant abutment system that made it possible for practitioners to achieve predictable, superior esthetic results in fewer patient visits, while eliminating the complexity associated with traditional implant solutions, which only focused on replacing function. In 1996 Dr. Osorio founded Atlantis Components, Inc., a company committed to merging the long-lasting function of dental implants with esthetic results. In 2007 The US National Association of Dental Implant Laboratories elected Atlantis “Supplier of the Year”. Today, Atlantis Components, Inc. is a owned by Dentsply Implants, which supplies Dr. Osorio’s abutment technology to the world’s leading implant manufactures such as Astra, Nobel and 3i.

Dr. Mongrain and his wife, Dee, have two grown daughters. They have traveled internationally on short-term mission trips. In addition to dentistry, Dr. Mongrain dedicates himself to his interest in firefighting. He has just completed his career as a volunteer firefighter in Bixby.

Currently, Dr. Osorio holds the position of Assistant Clinical Professor in the Division of Graduate and Post-Graduate Prosthodontics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where he has been on the faculty since 1984. He also serves in the Dean’s Board of Advisors at Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Julian Osorio obtained his dental degree from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia in 1979. He obtained his DMD, Master of Science in Dentistry, and his post-graduate training in Prosthodontics from Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Osorio joined Watkin Dental Associates in 1992 and subsequently became a full partner and now the sole owner of Osorio Dental Group. He lectures internationally to dentists and implant surgeons on the latest advancements in dental implant technology and developments helping achieve ideal esthetics and healing time.

Dr. Osorio served as Vice-President of the American College of Prosthodontics (MA division) and remains an active member. He is also a member of the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society and the American Academy of Osseointegration.When he’s not practicing dentistry, Dr. Osorio enjoys spending time with his three children. He is an avid golfer and very much into fitness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

He is a member of the distinguished 3M Council for Innovative Dentistry. He currently teaches and trains for several dental manufacturers. Professional Association Memberships include: American Dental Association, Oklahoma Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Federation Dentaire International, a Board Member of the Academy of CAD/CAM Dentistry, and the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.