Krishna M. Sundar, M.D.
Professor, Department of Medicine; Director, Sleep Medicine
To see if Krishna M. Sundar is accepting new patients, or for assistance finding a UC Davis doctor, please call 800-2-UCDAVIS (800-282-3284).
Locations and Contact
UC Davis Medical Group - Sacramento (Campus Commons)
UC Davis Medical Group - Sacramento (Campus Commons)
500 University Avenue, Ste. 220
Sacramento, CA 95825
Phone: 916-286-8700
Philosophy of Care
I am focused upon understanding the basis of your medical problems. My goal is to explain the reasons for the occurrence of your medical problem(s) and the solutions to remedy them. Besides medical therapies, I will stress upon the need for behavioral interventions to address your medical problems in a holistic manner.
Clinical Interests
Dr. Sundar is board-certified in sleep medicine, pulmonary disease, critical care medicine and internal medicine. He has extensive experience managing the full spectrum of sleep and pulmonary disorders. He is particularly focused upon understanding the interaction of sleep disorders with chronic disease and impacting overall outcomes.
Research/Academic Interests
Dr. Sundar has researched the effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia on red cell turnover, oxidative stress in acute lung injury and mechanisms of hypoxia sensing. He conducted the first community based study that showed the overlap of sleep apnea with chronic cough after which he created a multidisciplinary chronic cough clinic at University of Utah. Aside from demonstrating the predominance of laryngeal hypersensitivity in chronic cough, he has championed an interdisciplinary approach to managing refractory cough. He has participated in big-data research and translational studies relating to sleep disorders, and several industry and NIH-funded studies.
Division
Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Center/Program Affiliation
Medical School
M.D., Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education of Research, Chandigarh India 1993
Medical School
M.B.B.S., Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences, Dilshad Garden Dehli India 1989
Internship
Internal Medicine, Columbia University/St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York City NY 1993-1994
Residency
Internal Medicine, Columbia University/St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York City NY 1994-1996
Fellowship
Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Utah/University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics, Salt Lake City UT 1996-2001
People choice award finalist, American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2021 Sleep Medicine Disruptors; Change Agents Competition June 2021,
Castle Connolly Top Doctors - 10 years in pulmonary disease & sleep medicine,
America's top 10% most honored professionals - American Registry till 2023,
Best Pulmonologist, Best of Utah: Body and Mind, City Weekly, 2023,
Reader's Digest Best Sleep Doctor in each state - Utah, February 2019,
Access Dr. Sundar's Google Scholar bibliography here.
Access Dr. Sundar's PubMed bibliography here.
Gomez DR, Swartzman I, Linderholm A, Cummings BP, Zeki AA, Sundar KM, Kenyon NJ. State of the Art Review. Glucagon-like Peptide-1 in Obesity-related Asthma. LUNG 2025;203(1):108.
Sundar KM, Collins BF, Gross JE, Carlos WG, Jamil SM. The growing health burden of heat waves with focus on respiratory effects. Am J Respir Crti Care Med. 2025;211(9):P13-15.
Sundar KM, Collins BF, Gross JE, Carlos WG, Jamil SM. The growing health burden of heat waves with focus on respiratory effects. Am J Respir Crti Care Med. 2025;211(9):P13-15.
Sundar KM. How important is it to address sleep-disordered breathing in patients with chronic lung disease. Sleep Clinics North Am. June 2024;19(2):xiii-xiv.
Song J, Sundar KM, Horvathova M, Gangaraju R, Indak K, Christensen RD, Genzor S, Lundby C, Divoky V Ganz T, Prchal JT. Increased blood reactive oxygen species and hepcidin in obstructive sleep apnea precludes expected erythrocytosis. American J Hematol. 2023;1-12. DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26992
Sundar KM, Prchal JT. The cornerstone of the aberrant pathophysiology of OSA: Tissue responses to chronic sustained vs. intermittent hypoxia. Am J Respir Mol Cell Biol. 2017;56:419-420.
Sundar KM, Stark AC, Hu N, Barkmeier-Kraemer J. Is laryngeal hypersensitivity the basis for unexplained or refractory chronic cough? Eur Respir J Open Research. 2021; 7(1):00793-2020.
Sundar KM, Willis AM, Smith S, Hu N, Kitt JP, Birring SS. A randomized, controlled, pilot study of CPAP for patients with chronic cough and obstructive sleep apnea. LUNG. 2020;198:449-457.
Song J. Sundar K, Gangaraju R, Prchal JT. Regulation of erythropoiesis after normoxic return from chronic sustained and intermittent hypoxia. J Appl Physiol. (1985) 2017; 23(6):1671-75.
Sundar KM, Daly SE. Chronic cough and obstructive sleep apnea: a new association? J Clin Sleep Med. 2011;7: 669-77.