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Luis F. Buenaver

Luis F. Buenaver, PhD

Psychology

Highlights

Age Groups Seen

  • Young Adult 18-25
  • Adult 26-64
  • Older Adult 65+

Languages

  • Spanish
  • English

Gender

Male

Johns Hopkins Affiliations:

  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty

About Luis F. Buenaver

Primary Academic Title

Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Johns Hopkins Clinician

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Background

Dr. Buenaver directs the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at Johns Hopkins’ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the School of Medicine.

A graduate of the University of Arizona, Dr. Buenaver earned his PhD in clinical psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and completed his predoctoral internship at Temple University School of Medicine. Dr. Buenaver is a licensed psychologist.

Dr. Buenaver's clinical practice centers on pain management and the evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders (particularly chronic insomnia.) He has presented and published on topics including factors contributing to chronic pain and sleep disorders.

His research focuses on pain and sleep: studying and designing interventions to alter behavioral and psychological mechanisms that contribute to chronic pain and associated disability and understanding the role of sleep disturbance in chronic pain to learn how sleep loss and factors that drive sleep disturbance contribute to pain, disability, and negative mood.

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Additional Academic Titles

Associate Professor of Neurology

Selected Publications

  • Buenaver LF, Quartana PJ, Grace EG, Sarlani E, Simango M, Edwards RR, Haythornthwaite JA, Smith MT. Evidence for indirect effects of pain catastrophizing on clinical pain among myofascial temporomandibular disorder participants: the mediating role of sleep disturbance. PMID: 22417656 

  • Finan PH, Buenaver LF, Bounds SC, Hussain S, Park RJ, Haque UJ, Campbell CM, Haythornthwaite JA, Edwards RR, Smith MT. Discordance between pain and radiographic severity in knee osteoarthritis: findings from quantitative sensory testing of central sensitization. Arthritis Rheum. 2013 Feb;65(2):363-72. doi: 10.1002/art.34646. PMID: 22961435

  • Sowho MO, Woods MJ, Biselli P, McGinley BM, Buenaver LF, Kirkness JP. Nasal insufflation treatment adherence in obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Breath. 2014 Jul 12. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 25015548

  • Spira AP, Runko VT, Finan PH, Kaufmann CN, Bounds SC, Liu L, Buenaver LF, McCauley LM, Ancoli-Israel S, Smith MT. Circadian rest/activity rhythms in knee osteoarthritis with insomnia: A study of osteoarthritis patients and pain-free controls with insomnia or normal sleep. Chronobiol Int. 2014 Oct 7:1-6. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 25290041

  • Wideman TH, Finan PH, Edwards RR, Quartana PJ, Buenaver LF, Haythornthwaite JA, Smith MT. Increased sensitivity to physical activity among individuals with knee osteoarthritis: relation to pain outcomes, psychological factors, and responses to quantitative sensory testing. PMID: 24378879

Expertise

Education

  • Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Psychiatry, 2008
  • Fellowship: Hunter Holmes McGuire VA , Neuropsychology, 2004
  • Graduate School: VCU College of Health Professions, PhD, 2003

Board Certifications

  • Sleep Medicine: American Board of Sleep Medicine, 2008

Insurance

Search plans
  • Aetna
  • CareFirst
  • Cigna
  • First Health
  • Geisinger Health Plan
  • HealthSmart/Accel
  • Johns Hopkins Health Plans
  • MultiPlan
  • Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
  • Point Comfort Underwriters
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)

Ratings & Reviews

4.8 out of 5

53 ratings, 20 reviews

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

Search reviews
    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/18/2026

    Great doctor!

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/11/2026

    Provider gave me attention and enough time for my visit.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/11/2026

    He's very attentive to my concerns very good at problem solving to help me work out a better plan toilet improve my health.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/18/2026

    Very knowledgeable and sincere

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/10/2026

    This doctor is exceptional and was very helpful and thorough during the visit.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/28/2026

    Said he could help me to deal with my issue.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/21/2026

    Extremely helpful in conquering my sleep issues

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/20/2026

    Dr Buenaver displayed a wide yet related knowledge relevant to my current issues. Very helpful.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/13/2026

    Dr Buenaver is a thoughtful, thorough clinician. I felt comfortable in his care.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/7/2026

    Very caring and understanding.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/17/2025

    Dr. Buenaver provides clearly-explained strategies and documents them in an organized written format that is tailored to my needs. I like how he spends most of the visit focused on evidence-based strategies and constantly reminding me of them and adjusting these strategies based upon my sleep log data. His clinical methods are leading to some early progress, but Dr. Buenaver is objective about challenges that remain. I respect his knowledge about sleep medicine and psychology that adds solid value to my patient experience.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/16/2025

    His calm demeanor and overall approach to working with me definitely had a positive impact on my willingness to participate in the program.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/18/2025

    Dr. Buenaver is excellent. He listens, takes notes, and is clear and concise in his instruction. I have already noticed changes after one visit with him! I am very hopeful that we can help my insomnia. I have zero complaints or issues with Dr. Buenaver.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/18/2025

    Easy to talk to. Always listen to your concerns. Make you feel like he really is concerned about your health.

    3 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/5/2025

    Very helpful.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 9/16/2025

    He listens well and helps me interpret and put in words some of the things I have difficulty describing. He is empathetic and a quick study. He has helped motivate me to make difficult changes and provides convincing reasoning and workaround ideas when encountering stumbling blocks.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/22/2025

    Good listener. Thoughtful support. Practical ideas to help me with my sleep disorder

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/22/2025

    Dr. Buenaver is the kindest, most attentive Dr with whom I have ever worked. He listens carefully, asks a lot of questions, and then provides pertinent guidance and medical advice. He has helped me tremendously with my sleep issues and I highly recommend him!

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/16/2025

    It took me 9 months to get the appointment and while the initial meeting when well I was supposed to be emailed instructions and never received them.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 6/3/2025

    Thoughtful, expert, well trained, good listener, bright, empathetic - because of this, his appointment calendar is relatively full, requires several months lead time for appointments. I find the time spent with him useful, beneficial challenging at times, insightful. I would like to ask questions between visits as I work on his assignments. He Is good at managing our visits and seems to balance well his time speaking with my mine.