When the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) organized a comprehensive health screening event for former professional athletes in Atlanta, Georgia, they turned to a trusted network of healthcare professionals—including members of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy (ASBA).
Among those selected was Dr. Venitress Carrington, an ASBA member recognized for her expertise in dental sleep medicine and airway-focused care.

The Atlanta screening event brought together over 30 former NFL players to receive evaluations across multiple health disciplines. Increasingly, these events are recognizing the critical role of sleep health, airway function, and breathing disorders in long-term wellness.
Sleep apnea and related conditions are particularly relevant for former athletes, many of whom face elevated risks due to physical history, body composition changes, and cardiovascular strain.
Dr. Carrington’s participation reflects a broader shift:
Dental sleep medicine is becoming an essential component of integrative healthcare—especially in high-performance populations.
Organizations coordinating high-level screening events often look for clinicians with:
ASBA members are part of a growing network of providers focused on these areas, with an emphasis on practical application, clinical outcomes, and collaboration across medical specialties.
Events like this highlight the increasing demand for providers who can bridge the gap between dentistry and medicine.
From professional athletes to everyday patients, untreated sleep-disordered breathing can impact:
As awareness grows, so does the need for clinicians trained to recognize and treat these conditions effectively.
Dr. Carrington’s involvement in the NFLPA screening event represents more than an individual achievement—it reflects the continued expansion of dental sleep medicine into mainstream healthcare conversations.
For practitioners interested in this evolving field, education, collaboration, and clinical training remain key to participating in opportunities like these.
Explore how the American Sleep and Breathing Academy supports clinicians through education, training, and a professional network focused on airway and sleep health.