Dr. Karen Parker Davidson, RN, is the leading expert in nasal function, objective airflow measurements, and airway-focused artificial and clinical intelligence. She is the founder of the International Society of Nasal Function Diagnostics and Therapeutics, the bestselling author of Breathe Through Your Nose, Don’t Pay Through It, and the creator of the My Little Nose children’s book series.
Widely recognized for pioneering the clinical interpretation of nasal function data, Dr. Davidson advances the use of objective airflow measurements in treatment planning, diagnostics, and patient monitoring. She developed the first clinical education platform integrating courses, logic algorithms, artificial intelligence, and analytical frameworks for interpreting data from technologies such as 4-phase rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry, and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF)—innovative and proprietary tools considered first-of-their-kind worldwide.
Since 2017, she has contributed to more than 100 publications, lectures, and guest appearances on nasal function and airway science, translating research into tangible clinical impact for patients and their practitioners worldwide.
An Airway Clinical Nurse Specialist with more than four decades of healthcare experience, Dr. Davidson has held leadership, advisory, consulting, and research roles in medical technology and clinical specialties such as critical care, aerospace medicine, ENT, wound care, and sleep medicine throughout her career. Her background includes military service as a flight nurse and critical care nurse in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. She was the first clinician to introduce objective nasal resistance as a measurable physiologic biomarker within flow-based treatment protocols in dentistry, orthodontics, and allied healthcare specialties, and since 2017 has advanced the clinical application of 4-phase rhinomanometry and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) across multiple disciplines to expand the understanding of pressure-flow relationships, nasal function, and nasal resistance, further enhancing clinical capabilities.
Her research and contributions explore the relationships between nasal resistance, aerodynamic pressure, and systemic physiology found in chronic disease, posture adaptations, sleep disorders, autonomic dysfunction, oral neuromodulation, bruxism, PTSD, and systemic health. From this, she has developed several innovative clinical methods, algorithms, and diagnostic frameworks, including the Davidson Maneuver© for assessing the external nasal valves, the MAVERICK Nasal Exam, Facial Analysis (Reading), Posture Adaptation Evaluation©, the DAFNE Score™, the FACT Method™, and multiple airway-focused artificial intelligence platforms, including more than forty government registered works and IP developments related to airway science and nasal function innovation reflecting the depth and originality of her contributions.
In 2020, Dr. Davidson and her team presented research involving nasal delivery systems and device innovation for COVID-19 to White House officials through the Harrison COVID-19 Research Group. She has also received national recognition as part of a National Science Foundation-supported team developing a device and technology for emergency airway ventilation, later honored with a letter of commendation from Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson in 2024.
Dr. Davidson serves as a consultant and subject-matter expert for companies and organizations in airway health, sleep medicine, and medical technology. She currently serves on multiple nonprofit and professional boards, including the Executive Board of The Healthcare Navigation Project, the Advisory Board of the Children’s Airway First Foundation, and the Nasal Health Council. She also serves on the editorial board of Dental Sleep Practice magazine and as an invited peer reviewer for numerous medical journals.
She is currently serving a consecutive four-year term on the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) review committee for the American Dental Association and has authored healthcare policy proposals reviewed through federal legislative channels.
An accomplished educator, Dr. Davidson is an Adjunct Professor and Subject Matter Expert at Liberty University and Central Michigan University, teaching healthcare policy, healthcare economics, grant writing, and medical coding. She was named “Outstanding Professor” by Liberty University School of Health Sciences in Fall 2024 and regularly lectures nationally and internationally on airway health, nasal function, and interdisciplinary healthcare innovation.
Her research and contributions appear in textbooks, peer-reviewed journals, and academic publications worldwide. She is a contributing author, editor, and co-editor for multiple healthcare and airway-focused publications, including Sleep, Craniofacial Form, and Airway Function Disorders: An Interdisciplinary Approach (2026), The Clinician’s Handbook for Dental Sleep Medicine (2nd ed., 2025), and Remote Monitoring and Wearable Devices in Healthcare (2025).
Dr. Davidson has received numerous national and international honors, including recognition among the Top 50 Women Leaders in Washington, DC, the Outstanding Dissertation Award from Central Michigan University for research on reimbursement policy and nasal function diagnostics, recognition, and designation as a Top 100 Healthcare Leader by the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare for her contributions as VP at GM Instruments, Ltd.
She holds a Doctor of Health Administration degree focused on healthcare policy, three Master’s degrees in health administration, education, and nursing, and a Bachelor’s degree in nursing. She is pursuing a PhD in Business Administration with a concentration in international business, and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.
Dr. Davidson resides in the Annapolis area with her favorite college baseball player, her son, Zach, and her dogs, where she continues advancing research, education, innovation, and healthcare policy initiatives in nasal function and airway health.
My mission is to educate the world on the intricacies of the nose and provide valuable insights into its vital role in health, sleep, and well-being. Whether you’re seeking knowledge about nasal anatomy, the physiological benefits of nasal breathing, or understanding common issues such as congestion or nasal resistance, I have you covered.
As an expert passionate about respiratory health, I hope to empower you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about your nasal function and health, as well as to share with your medical or dental provider. Take a peek at my articles, resources, and blog for a deeper appreciation of the remarkable capabilities of this tiny reactive organ we call the nose. Breathe easy, sleep well™—Nasal Function Insights™ is here to guide you every step of the way.
For information regarding speaking availability, consulting, research, or education programs, please contact her through email or DM Instagram handle @_thenoseknows