Current Internal Medicine Housestaff

Heston grew up in the small town of Quality, KY along with two sisters. Growing up in a rural area exposed him to the health disparities faced by this population and fueled his passion for rural health. He attended Murray State University for undergrad and majored in biology. He then attended medical school at the University of Kentucky as part of the Rural Physician Leadership Program, a program designed to give students additional experience and insight into rural health. He enjoys traveling (he’s been to 48 states and hopes to get to Hawaii and Alaska soon!), cooking, playing board games, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. He is excited to move to Nashville and join the Vanderbilt community!

Brett grew up near Orlando, Florida. Before completing his undergraduate degree in neuroscience at Brigham Young University, he spent two years as a missionary in Puebla, Mexico. He attended medical school at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, a five-year program at Case Western Reserve University that includes as part of its curriculum an additional research focus. While there he spent time researching the impact of the microbiome on heart disease with Dr. Stan Hazen. He also designed and carried out a randomized pilot study with Dr. Leonard Calabrese examining the effects of a mindfulness-based stress management program on transcriptomic and circulating markers of inflammation in a group of stressed nurses. Besides spending time with and taking cute pictures of their two boys, Brett and his wife, Leticia, enjoy getting outdoors and exploring new places, documenting their adventures through photography and video. Brett also plays the piano and is an avid mountain biker and Crossfit enthusiast.

Hunter was born and raised in Miami, FL in a Cuban American household. He earned his undergraduate degree in neuroscience at the University of Miami where he got Scuba certified and joined the rock-climbing team. After undergrad, he worked as a simulation technician before going to Tampa for medical school. As part of the USF SELECT program, he completed two years in Tampa and two in Allentown Pennsylvania, which was his first time seeing snow. During his free time, he loves to cook, play board games and make soap. He also cultivates a variety of succulents and orchids and looks forward to restarting his garden in Nashville.

Viviana was born in Quito, Ecuador but her entire family is from Peru. She moved to Miami, FL when she was 3 and has been there ever since! She majored in Neuroscience and minored in Sports Medicine at the University of Miami and then stayed there to complete her dual MD/MPH degree. Viviana is a HUGE sports fan and loves going to as many baseball, football and basketball games as she can. She loves to run and workout, and her goal is to stay as active as she can during residency. She also loves traveling to see family in Peru as often as she can and enjoys visiting new places. Her favorite countries she has visited are Egypt and Colombia (where she got to do an amazing hike in the jungle). Viviana is so excited to move to Nashville and become a part of the Vanderbilt community!

Eesha grew up in New Delhi, India until she moved to Collierville, TN when she was 9 years old. Her interest in neurology was piqued during her undergraduate career, when she majored in Neuroscience and Computer Science. She spent some time after college doing clinical research with a focus on genome wide studies at the Lieber Institute in Baltimore, and decided that she wanted to be a clinician after pursuing a Master's degree in Pharmacology from University of Tennessee. During her time in medical school, she developed an interest in public health as well as medical education. She hopes to further those interests during residency. During her free time, Eesha enjoys biking, board games, baking, and reading. She is excited to return to Vanderbilt as a resident!

Molly was born and raised in Nolensville, Tennessee and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a major in biological sciences and a minor in Spanish. She continued her education at the University of Kentucky for medical school, where she was a part of the Rural Physician Leadership Program and the Global Health Track. In her career, she hopes to continue working with underserved populations and alleviating health disparities. In her spare time, she enjoys anything that will get her outside and balance her love of food, such as running, hiking, biking, or walking her dog, Moose. She is thrilled to be returning home and joining the Vanderbilt community! Member of AOA.

Lisa grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana and graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in biology. After college, Lisa studied butterfly behavior at the University of Arizona, where she surprisingly discovered a passion for working with people through extensive experiences in science education and outreach. After receiving a Master of Science in her graduate program, Lisa went on to pursue a career in medicine at Texas A&M University College of Medicine. There, she found her calling in neurology while she continued to develop her interests in education and outreach. Lisa is excited to continue her training at Vanderbilt and with the Nashville community. Outside of medicine, Lisa spends her time cooking Asian cuisine, swimming at the local gym, enjoying yoga in her living room, and caring for her houseplants.

Nick was born in San Francisco, California and grew up in Sacramento until moving to the midwest for college. He attended Washington University where he studied economics, Chinese and finance. He spent several years working in Madison, Wisconsin before applying to medical school and moving to the frigid Syracuse, NY. He is extremely excited to be moving someplace far warmer and joining the Vanderbilt community! He and his wife love hiking, fishing and experiencing local culture, and they are thrilled to start a new adventure in Nashville!

Doug grew up in Princeton, NJ with a twin brother. He attended the University of Michigan for undergrad, where he majored in Cellular and Molecular Biology and minored in Medical Anthropology. Doug was also a member of the inaugural Division I lacrosse team at Michigan and played on the lacrosse team for all four years. Doug furthered his interests in medicine by working for an NCAA/Department of Defense concussion study before medical school. For medical school, Doug moved south to attend the University of South Florida. During this time, Doug was active with mentoring undergraduate students, medical mission work, and various quality improvement projects. In his free time, Doug enjoys playing really any sport, running, hiking, skiing, reading, watching college sports, checking out restaurants/breweries, and cooking (especially mac and cheese).

Jake was born in Atlanta, GA, but raised in the foothills of the Smokies in Knoxville, TN. He went to Creighton University in Omaha, NE for his undergraduate degree, receiving a B.S. in Chemistry with a focus in Biochemistry. After undergraduate, Jake remained a Bluejay by attending Creighton for medical school. Jake discovered PM&R in his first year of medical school and had the light bulb go off in his head knowing that he had found the right fit for him. Jake became involved in traumatic brain injury research, which helped to further cement his passion for PM&R. In his spare time Jake loves to be outdoors. He enjoys spending his time reading science fiction, swimming, biking, hiking, snow skiing, and wake boarding. Jake and his wife are excited to move to Nashville.

Prior to attending medical school, Will received multiple offers to play professional basketball including an offer to try out with the NBA's Celtics. While attending medical school Will served as Ultrasound Club President during his preclinical years and sought out additional training with local Ultrasound Technicians. These extracurricular efforts allowed Will to develop an ultrasound curriculum and teach ultrasound techniques and procedural skills to students and physicians. Will is married to his best friend and they have a 6-year-old girl, who keeps their lives unpredictable and full of adventure.

Michael was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is the oldest of 4, having a twin brother, Warren (Michael is older by 1 minute), and two younger sisters, Maria and Olivia. He attended the University of Arkansas for his undergraduate studies in biology and graduated Summa Cum Laude before entering medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. During medical school he studied diligently and was able to graduate with the highest honors in the class. He has a passion for early morning weightlifting before clinic or class, and he enjoys football, grilling, and fishing on the weekends. He also collects interesting shirts, ties, and socks that he enjoys showing his colleagues and patients. Some of his favorite things about Nashville are the hot chicken that is readily available around the city and the country music scene that practically defines the city. Michael will leave for Oklahoma City to complete his Dermatology residency after his intern year at Vanderbilt. He hopes to return to somewhere in the South after his training. Member of AOA.

Dina was born and brought up in Amman, Jordan. At the age of 18, she moved to Edinburgh for medical school. After 6 years there, she moved to London to start post graduate training at King’s College. Last year, Dina took a year out to earn a Master’s degree in clinical neuroscience. After her prelim year in medicine at Vanderbilt, she will be moving to Chicago for her neurology residency at Northwestern. In COVID times, her hobbies have become sleeping and watching Netflix. Pre-COVID, she loved travelling, eating her way through the places she visited, and running. Dina is looking forward to clearer skies and easier access to the outdoors upon moving to Nashville in July!

Henry was born in San Diego and studied General Biology at UC San Diego. During college, he researched unnatural DNA and spent several summers helping to set up primary care clinics in rural Vietnam. He then moved out of San Diego for the first time to begin a new adventure in Nashville, specifically, medical school at Vanderbilt! He dedicated an extra year of medical school to researching cutaneous toxicities of immune checkpoint inhibitors and was even asked to model an immunotherapy textbook for the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer website. He enjoys reading mystery and thriller novels, writing short stories, playing video games, and visiting the beach (though this has been much more difficult in Nashville than in San Diego). He is excited to be staying at Vanderbilt for another year before heading to Cincinnati for his dermatology training!

Melissa grew up in St. Louis, MO and attended Notre Dame where she majored in biological sciences and minored in theology. She then joined Vanderbilt's MD/PhD program, where she studied the regulation of immune responses during airway inflammation in Stokes Peebles' lab. Melissa has enjoyed being a part of Vanderbilt's Harrison Society and plans to complete a fellowship in allergy & immunology. Her scientific interests focus on modulating the immune response during allergic disease. Outside of the hospital and the lab, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband Nathan, who is also a member of the Harrison Society. Together, they do their best to keep up with their active and inquisitive 5-year-old daughter Penny and her 1 year old sister Josie.

Saumya was born in Mumbai, India and emigrated to the United States at the age of six. She grew up in Norristown, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. She attended the University of Pennsylvania where she studied Biology, Psychology, and South Asian Studies. After completing her undergraduate education, she took a gap year and participated in the CBYX program which gave her the opportunity to live and work in Köln, Germany for one year. Following that formative experience, she joined the MD/PhD program at Penn State University. Saumya earned her PhD with training as an immunologist and her research interests range from T cell biology to the tumor microenvironment; she will be fast-tracking into Hematology-Oncology and pursuing a career as a physician-scientist. Saumya is an avid tennis player and loves the NBA, especially her hometown Philadelphia 76ers. She loves to travel, not only to visit her family in India but also to explore new countries, cultures, and most importantly food. Her other interests include Bollywood movies, music and theater, reading for pleasure, and spending time with her beautiful co-residents.

Matt was born in Columbia, Maryland and, after moving at a young age, spent most of his childhood in Springboro, Ohio. He attended the University of Michigan, where he received a B.S. in Microbiology. He subsequently matriculated into the MSTP at Vanderbilt University. He completed his doctoral studies with Dr. Stokes Peebles, focusing on innate lymphoid cell contributions to reactive airway disease. He is continuing his training at Vanderbilt in Internal Medicine as part of the Physician-Scientist Training Program with the goal of pursuing a career as an investigator and clinician in academia. Outside of his professional interests, Matt enjoys spending time with his fiancé Rachel and their many pets, intensely playing board games, and partaking in any and all activities involving lakes, creeks, or oceans.

Temini Ajayi spent most of his formative years in Nigeria. He moved to the US to begin college at Texas A&M where he completed an undergraduate degree in Molecular and Cell Biology and a Master’s in Public Health. He briefly worked as a program manager for the NIEHS Translational Institute at Texas A&M before matriculating to medical school at Duke. During medical school, he spent a year at NIEHS/NIH in Durham, NC doing translational research focused on inflammation and Crohn’s disease. He has thoroughly enjoyed his time at Vanderbilt, and in Nashville, and plans to pursue a career in gastroenterology. Specifically, he has enjoyed the combination of excellent clinical training and amazing co-residents at Vanderbilt. He enjoys playing soccer, engaging in DIY activities with his wife, exploring the variety of food options Nashville has to offer and the occasional trip to Broadway!

Aseel was born and raised in Amman, Jordan with her younger brother, sister and parents. She received her medical education at the University of Jordan Faculty of Medicine, during which she visited Vanderbilt for the first time for an away rotation. She fell in love with the beautiful city of Nashville and came back right after graduating from Jordan to join the lab of Dr. Alp Ikizler. She spent the last two years working on research projects focused on tissue sodium, insulin resistance and prevention of hypertension. In her spare time, she enjoys driving around and discovering new hiking spots in Tennessee. She also likes playing basketball and swimming. Aseel is excited to be staying in Vanderbilt’s community!

Cory was born on an Air Force base on the island of Terceira in the Azores archipelago, a Portuguese territory, and shortly after moved to Ames, Iowa. He attended St. Olaf College where he studied biology with concentrations in neuroscience and biochemistry. While in college, he worked as an EMT and a medical scribe, cementing his interest in medicine. After college, he attended the University of Iowa for medical school where he spent a great deal of time organizing fundraisers. At Iowa, he developed a passion for teaching and the study of healthcare delivery. Since coming to Nashville, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his fianceé and dog, Blue, exploring Tennessee’s waterfalls and hiking trails. He is now a Nashville Predators, Tennessee Titans, and Nashville SC fan. It has been a pleasure to be a part of the Vanderbilt team and after enjoying every rotation, he has decided to pursue a career in hospital medicine back home in central Iowa at UnityPoint Health. Member of AOA.

Ian is the oldest of four children and was born in Port Huron, Michigan. He moved to Cincinnati when he was nine and has lived there ever since. He did his undergrad at Xavier University, where he studied biology, chemistry and theology and discovered his love of basketball. Then to the chagrin of all his friends, he moved across town to Xavier’s biggest rival for medical school. At the University of Cincinnati, he met his better half, Erin Bouquet, and they moved to Nashville four years later. Ian loves the weather and brewery scene in Nashville. There is nothing better than sitting poolside in October with a Homestyle IPA. He is planning to apply to Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship this fall and enjoys the resident autonomy in the ICU at Vanderbilt.

Erin was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. She attended the University of Notre Dame where she majored in biology and learned the value of blind optimism during football season - Go Irish! While there, Erin sang in the Notre Dame Folk Choir, whose yearly tours took her to LA, NYC, Ireland, and Scotland. After college, Erin lived in Philadelphia and worked at a hospice agency. She returned to Ohio for medical school at the University of Cincinnati where she met her fiancé, Ian. They couples matched into the program and have loved their time as part of the Vandy IM family! As a Midwesterner, she has taken full advantage of the additional months of patio weather in Nashville. She loves hiking in the many beautiful TN state parks, Nashville breweries, walking to her neighborhood farmers' market, reading, and wine nights with friends. Member of AOA

Henry grew up in Kensington, MD, right outside of Washington, DC. After high school, he was the fourth of all five kids in his family to head out to Notre Dame where he studied physics, and he remains a die-hard Fighting Irish fan to this day. He went back to the east coast for medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. While there, he additionally obtained a Masters of Bioethics and did research in health policy ethics. Ultimately, much to the chagrin of his father and brother -- both urologists -- he saw the light and decided on internal medicine. Outside of medicine, Henry loves playing soccer, watching hockey, trying out the local breweries, hiking, and kayaking with his wife and four dogs, who almost never cause him to capsize.

Kevin was raised in Geneva (Switzerland) and grew up speaking English with his American father and French with his Mauritian mother. He completed a bilingual high school education in Geneva before moving to London. He attended the Imperial College London School of Medicine for his undergraduate science degree and postgraduate medical training. After completing his visiting student elective at the Mayo Clinic and his mandatory internship year in London, he applied for residency in the U.S and is thrilled to have matched to Vanderbilt. His clinical and research interest lies at the intersection between critical care and infectious diseases. Outside medicine, he enjoys spending time with friends at local breweries, playing tennis, traveling on weekends and competing in a weekly soccer league with his co-residents.

Sam grew up in Connecticut, where she spent her time playing the violin and competing in tae kwon do tournaments. She attended Middlebury College and double majored in Spanish and molecular biology. As an undergraduate she often volunteered with Mexican migrant workers, teaching them English and interpreting during their doctor’s appointments at a local free clinic. Inspired by her first glimpse of healthcare for the underserved, she returned home to start medical school at the University of Connecticut. She enjoyed all of her clinical rotations and subsequently completed a family medicine residency at the Ventura County Medical Center in southern California. However, she ultimately discovered that her true passion lies in infectious disease and addiction medicine. She joined the Vanderbilt community and hopes to pursue fellowships in addiction medicine and infectious disease after finishing her internal medicine residency. Since moving to Nashville, Sam has enjoyed exploring the multitude of restaurants, breweries, and live music venues nearby. Her favorite things outside of medicine include running, hiking, chocolate, river otters, wine tours, baking, and playing the violin and guitar.

Kelly was born and raised in Boca Raton, Florida. She attended Emory University where she majored in biology. While at Emory, she played varsity soccer (with co-resident Kaele Leonard!) and was named captain her junior and senior seasons. Kelly went to medical school at the University of Florida, where she fell in love with SEC football and the Gator Nation. While in medical school, she traded her soccer cleats for running shoes and raced her way to the Boston Marathon, a most humbling and inspiring experience. Besides playing soccer and running, Kelly enjoys attending sporting events of all kinds, hiking, camping, cycling, and spending time with her husband, Ryan. Her favorite thing about living in Nashville is the access to so many outdoors activities and beautiful state parks. Vanderbilt has provided a supportive family of colleagues and great friends who are fun to work with and who are equally excited to take advantage of the many Nashville activities outside the hospital.

Greta was born in Des Moines, Iowa and spent her childhood swimming, learning how to bake from her grandmother, and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes. She is a blue ribbon winner for her baked goods at the Iowa State Fair. She moved to Missouri for undergrad at Washington University in St. Louis. At WashU, she was the manager of the women’s basketball team for 4 years and she cultivated a love for science and medicine. She also studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, which sparked her love for international travel. Her favorite destinations to date have been Machu Picchu in Peru and Banff National Park in Canada. She graduated with degrees in biology and Spanish. After undergrad, she returned to Iowa for medical school. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys cooking, music, and being active. She has absolutely loved becoming a member of the Vandy IM family and exploring all of the food, music, and hiking Nashville and central Tennessee have to offer. Member of AOA.

Xuan was born in Wuhan, China and grew up in Houston, TX before attending Duke University for college. At Duke, he discovered a passion for Duke basketball and ultrasound imaging. After earning a degree biomedical engineering with minors in chemistry and biology, he enrolled in the MSTP program at the University of Pittsburgh. His PhD research was focused on developing new ultrasound imaging technologies to identify vulnerable carotid plaques. He remains a loyal Blue Devil basketball fan at heart and has also been working on his repertoire of recipes while in residency. He’s been extremely grateful to have been surrounding by incredibly intelligent and caring co-residents at Vanderbilt and has loved coming back to the warm weather and welcoming arms in the South.

Robert was born in Atlanta, GA but quickly moved to Chattanooga where his love for the outdoors was born. Staying in Chattanooga for his undergraduate education, he earned a degree in chemistry and met his wife, Meagan. Staying in the great state of Tennessee, he attended medical school at the University of Tennessee where he developed his interest in academic medicine and enjoyed the best BBQ in the USA. Outside the hospital, he enjoys, hiking, camping, weightlifting, cheering for the Nashville Predators, smoking meats, and trying as many hot wings as he can get his hands on. First and foremost, Nashville is a great place to eat hot chicken, but it is also a great place to train and live. I am grateful for the faculty support which is unparalleled here at Vanderbilt. In addition, even with the large program size, the camaraderie felt amongst all my co-residents it strong and makes for a productive and fun work environment.

Tyler grew up in Nashville, Tennessee attending St. Henry’s School and Father Ryan High School before studying nursing at Saint Louis University. He returned to Nashville after college and worked as a critical care nurse at St. Thomas Midtown Hospital for five years. During medical school, he Anchored Down and married his beautiful wife, who is a Vanderbilt alumna. He is a father to a charming son, Jeremy with another boy on the way. Tyler enjoys lifting heavy weights, playing golf, and teaching his son to be the next Tiger Woods. He enjoys exploring Nashville's golf courses and taking his son to the Nashville Zoo. Member of AOA.

Eric grew up in Ocala, FL, and learned to love yearlong summers. He attended college at Stetson University in Florida, where he majored in physics and minored in French. He then moved northward to attend Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and was involved with Careers in Medicine and the ultrasound interest group as a medical student. He also spent a year doing basic science research on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy while in medical school. Outside of medicine, he enjoys playing pick-up basketball, cheering on the Chicago Cubs, reading, and spending time with friends and family. He has enjoyed staying at Vanderbilt for residency and participating in the EXCITE medical education program.

Nowrin grew up in St. Louis, MO and attended Washington University in St. Louis where she earned a B.A. in biochemistry and economics. Despite her best efforts to leave her hometown, she fell in love with the Washington University School of Medicine and decided another four years in the same city couldn't be so bad, to the relief of her parents. There she developed a passion for the heart and was involved in cardiovascular research focused on the treatment of atrial fibrillation. In addition, she was the head of the American Medical Women's Association and helped organize the Red Dress Affair, raising over $13,000 for the American Heart Association. In her spare time, Nowrin loves to travel, read, find new restaurants and sites with her friends, and binge-watch Netflix shows from her couch. Since coming to Vanderbilt, Nowrin has confirmed her love for cardiology and is most likely to be found in the CCU. Outside the hospital, she and her friends can be found all around town at Nashville’s best restaurants, rooftop bars, and speakeasies, having more fun than you would expect from a group of residents.

Alexandra (Lexi) Haugh grew up in Montville, New Jersey. The first time she crossed the Mason-Dixon line was to attend Vanderbilt as an undergraduate, where she double majored in Chemistry and English Literature. After graduating from college, she spent an amazing year working at the Asian University for Women in Chittagong, Bangladesh and survived some crazy travel experiences. She is a fan of the underappreciated hot/humid combo so moved from South Asia to New Orleans to attend medical school at Tulane, where she also earned an MPH in Epidemiology. She took a year off to work in a dermatopathology lab at Northwestern and learned that genomics and oncology are mind-blowingly cool and that it’s possible to be brought to tears by how cold you are. Her time at Vanderbilt has only strengthened her passion for oncology and she will probably try and tell you about it even if you ask an unrelated question about a different medical specialty. As detailed by Nowrin, she has fun friends and spends most of her free time being fun with them but is otherwise doing yoga, reading or plotting out ambitious international vacations despite her resident salary/schedule.

Ruey is a Canadian from Toronto. He received an A.B. in molecular biology and computer science at Princeton University, an M.P.H. in epidemiology and biostatistics at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and an M.D. at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Ruey enjoys taekwondo, composing music, and code. Being passionate about Asian-American health, Ruey served as the national president of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA). He is a member of the Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society. Ruey enjoys teaching medical students.

Vik grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana before moving to Boston and Philadelphia for further education. In college he majored in human evolutionary biology with a minor in Economics. While in medical school, he discovered new interests in cooking, medical education, and sketch comedy. He wrote for and acted in the school’s annual comedy show, Spoof. After many years in the frozen north, he moved to Nashville for IM residency in summer 2018. In the residency program, Vik is involved in Medical Education and Quality Improvement. After contemplating multiple specialties, Vik decided he liked them all and is planning to be a General Internist. He plans to continue working with medical students and residents as an academic internist and hopes to find a role blending outpatient and inpatient work. After residency, he plans to move back to Philadelphia to rejoin his partner Mary who remains at Penn for her residency. Ask me about: medical education, QI, board games, cooking, video games, NFL (go Saints!)

Cory was born in Upstate New York in a small town called Scotia. He is the middle child of five siblings; his oldest brother is a scuba diving instructor in Key West and his youngest brother just started elementary school. He developed an interest in medicine in high school and pursued a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry at SUNY Fredonia. Here, he completed an internship in pharmacy and developed his original interest in anesthesiology. He then completed his medical degree at the University of Florida, matching into an anesthesia residency position at Yale. Cory discovered his passion for medicine during his intern year and plans to apply for a cardiology fellowship after training in internal medicine. In 2016, he married his high school sweetheart, Grace. His other interests include playing guitar, going to the movies, and caring for his cats. He is excited for the opportunity to continue his training at Vanderbilt!

Eric hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma where he was born and raised. As he grew up, he enjoyed hanging out with his brothers and friends, eating spicy BBQ, camping, competing at tennis, and playing tons of music. As such, it was already written in the stars that he would someday land in Nashville. He ventured to St. Olaf College, a Christian liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota. Drawn to its culture of kind, curious people, he became consumed in music, science, and Malt-O-Meal cereal. While he taught CPR classes and worked as an EMT in college, he also studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina for five months. There, he polished his Spanish, worked in a public hospital, and taught sex education to impoverished youth. To escape the cold, he attended to the University of Arizona for medical school in Tucson. He conducted cancer research and created a service program that trains health professions students to enroll individuals in health plans. Most importantly, he met his incredibly supportive and loving fiancé, Kelly. Together, they raise their perpetually 7-pound son, Dezmond. Being a Yorkie-Cairn Terrier village dog, he is sure to charm. Eric is so excited to live in Music City with his two best friends and work alongside the most amazing group of residents and faculty that ever lived! Member of AOA.

David grew up in Dublin, Ohio, where he spent his childhood reading and building a lifelong group of friends. He attended college at Johns Hopkins University, where he majored in neuroscience and molecular and cellular biology with minors in classics and mathematics. While in Baltimore, David spent his free-time Lion Dancing and urban exploring. He moved down south to Nashville for medical school at Vanderbilt, where the loops of Henle wound their way into David's heart, and he fell in love with Nephrology. In his free time, David enjoys hiking with his partner Bryce, reading Brandon Sanderson novels, exploring the fantastic food scene, and playing board games with his friends.

Steven is from a small suburb of Chicago, Illinois where he worked in local theater and was a member of his high school drumline. He went to the University of Illinois for undergrad where he majored in molecular and cellular biology and minored in English. After that, he took a year off and worked at Abbvie in North Chicago. Deciding he was done with the cold for a while, he moved to Miami, where he attended the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, studying medicine, medical genomics, and how best to avoid getting sunburned. While there, he enjoyed trips to the beach, Florida Keys, days and nights out with friends, and exploring the south Florida culture. After finishing up school, he decided to head back to the cold (sort of) and moved to Nashville for residency at Vanderbilt. In his free time, he enjoys running, reading, heading to the beach to relax or kayak, cooking/baking, and listening to music. Member of AOA.

Matt was born just outside of San Francisco, California in the small town of Mill Valley. Acknowledging the slight disappointment of no longer being a cool California kid, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia at the age of five. It was there that he began to take on every sport known to man from basketball to soccer to football to baseball. With the slow realization that the only chance he had to actually succeed in any of these athletic endeavors was his ability to outrun the other guy, he had found a new passion: running. For college, Matt attended UNC Chapel Hill, where basketball obsession is nothing short of extreme. He happily adopted this fervent attitude (Go Heels!). At UNC, he majored in nutrition at the Gillings School of Global Public Health. He also worked as a CNA in an emergency department affiliated with that university that shall not be named just down the road (Hint: it starts with a D). He loved his experience in Chapel Hill so much that he stayed for four more years of medical school. He feels fortunate to have completed his third year in Asheville, North Carolina where he fell in love with internal medicine and the mountains. He continued his journey through the mountains fourth year by completing an ICU rotation in New Zealand. In his free time, you can find him running, exploring new coffee shops/restaurants/breweries, reading, hiking, debating when to adopt a dog, and watching Carolina basketball. A lesser-known skill is his ability to shamelessly sing karaoke, which he still hopes will propel him to stardom in Music City. He loves Nashville and all that it has to offer. More importantly, he loves the VUMC family and greatly appreciates the immense support he has received and all the learning along the way. He looks forward to his last year of residency and to the future as a hopeful soon-to-be GI fellow. Member of AOA.

Jennifer was born and raised in the Greater Boston area where she attended Phillips Academy Andover. She studied English literature and music (piano) at Vanderbilt and was admitted to Vanderbilt School of Medicine as part of the Early Acceptance Program at the end of her sophomore year. During medical school, she pursued research in novel biomarkers in patients with acute kidney injury, amyloidosis, and heart failure. In her free time, she enjoys practicing works by her favorite composers (Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven), skiing/figure skating, playing with her 7lb Maltese named Watson, and revisiting Jane Austen and Chaucer on rainy days. She is excited to stay at Vanderbilt!

Colin was born and raised in Carbondale, Illinois. He studied biochemistry and philosophy at DePauw University where he also enjoyed working in the music department at the campus radio station. He attended the University of Pittsburgh for medical school where he developed an interest in cardiology and spent time researching mechanical circulatory support. He has found the Vanderbilt community to be incredibly supportive and has learned more than he could have imagined from his co-residents and mentors. He enjoys spending his free time in Nashville biking along Natchez Trace or the Shelby Bottoms Greenway. Member of AOA.

John is from originally from Alexandria, Virginia but spent most of his upbringing overseas, living in Jordan and the Philippines before graduating high school in Cairo, Egypt. He attended Johns Hopkins University where he majored in neuroscience. Between college and medical school, John lived in rural Haiti where he worked for a global health nonprofit and managed community health programs. He then moved to Washington, DC where he worked on HIV/AIDS health policy. John went to medical school at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York where he engaged with quality improvement and population health research in cardiovascular diseases. In his spare time, John enjoys hiking, traveling, live music, personal fitness, and nonfiction literature. He is excited to join the Vanderbilt community and is looking forward to experiencing all that Nashville has to offer!

Elise was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. In high school she played multiple sports as well as playing in the orchestra. She attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA where she studied biology and philosophy while developing a love of Gonzaga basketball. Go Zags! For medical school she attended the University of Washington where she fell in love with internal medicine. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, travel, and quirky ice cream shops. Elise is looking forward to a new adventure in Nashville!

Kyle was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. In his childhood years, you could always find him on a field playing pick-up sports. He attended Louisiana State University where he never missed a home football or basketball game. There he majored in biological sciences and decided to pursue a career in medicine. He returned home to Shreveport for medical school where he discovered a passion for physiology and internal medicine. Since arriving at Vanderbilt, he has continued to develop his interest in pulmonary and critical care medicine and will be applying for fellowship. He has also become involved with research in pulmonary hypertension. He and his wife, Kathryn, enjoy hanging out with friends in the residency program, trying new restaurants in Nashville, attending Vanderbilt sporting events, going to Predators games, and spending time with their Maltese, Molly. Member of AOA.

Casey was born in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, but grew up as the oldest of 2 daughters in Worthington Ohio (a suburb of Columbus-GO BUCKS). She attended Ohio Wesleyan University for college and majored in both microbiology and Spanish with a minor in chemistry. She moved to Dayton, OH after college to begin medical school at Wright State University. Casey is interested in pursuing a career in infectious disease, with focuses on medical education and global health. She has already travelled to Spain, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Peru. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog Motley, hiking, running, traveling, playing volleyball, baking, and trying new restaurants and breweries throughout Nashville. She loves Nashville’s parks, barbeque, and small-town feel in a big city! Member of AOA.

Shannon was born and raised in Orlando, FL, where she enjoyed playing basketball and going outside as much as possible. During high school, she developed an interest in oncology after ending her mediocre basketball career in favor of working on a head and neck cancer research project. After attending the University of Florida for college and medical school as part of the combined BS/MD medical honors program, she came to Vanderbilt for residency and loves living in a state with seasons. She joined the Harrison Society as a resident and will be staying here for hematology/oncology fellowship doing malignant hematology research, focusing on the phenotypes and genetic landscapes of patients with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and MDS. She also serves on the High Value Care Committee. Outside of medicine, Shannon enjoys gong to yoga at Shakti Power Yoga, lifting weights, collecting wine, watching basketball, writing, and playing with her pet bunny, Muffin. These days, her hobbies have mostly been replaced by planning her wedding to fellow Vanderbilt IM resident Joe Nowatzke. Shannon and Joe love the program and living in Nashville!

Warren was born in Fort Walton Beach, FL, where he spent most of his early childhood before moving with his family to Dayton, OH during his middle school years. After a few years in Dayton, he moved again to Lexington, MA to finish high school. Despite moving several times in his formative years, Warren was happy to find regularity in his dedication to his hobbies; he continued to swim competitively, played the trumpet in the school band, and kept up with his studies in piano. For college, Warren moved to Providence, RI to attend Brown University, where he majored in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in science, Warren continued his academic pursuit at Brown to complete a Master’s degree in Biology. While at Brown, Warren often performed in arch-sings as part of an acappella group and also worked in a biomedical engineering lab. He then attended medical school at the University at Buffalo, where he found his passion for Internal Medicine and developed a strong interest in the field of cardiology. A dedicated year of cardiovascular research between MS2 and MS3 emboldened his desire to pursue a career in academic cardiology. Outside of medicine, Warren enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking and exploring new places, running, and listening to a variety of podcasts. Warren is also an avid pro-football fan. Really speaking to his tenacity and optimism, he never gets discouraged by his poor decisions when it comes to managing his Fantasy teams. He is very excited to join the Vanderbilt family and form life-long friendships over the next 3 years. Member of AOA.

Allison was born and raised outside Birmingham in Mountain Brook, AL but spent much of her summers with family in Nashville. She grew up playing as many sports as possible and decidedly avoiding any football allegiance. She then left the warm weather to attend the University of Chicago where she majored in Biology and helped her team to several solid 3rd place finishes in the yearly Scavenger Hunt. After college, she stayed in the Midwest to attend Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH where she developed a love of teaching and internal medicine. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels, cooking, hiking, wine tasting, and chilling with her one-eyed cat, Chairman Meow. She is extremely excited to be heading back south and starting her internal medicine career at Vanderbilt!

Alex was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, home of the original Mardi Gras. Alex spent his childhood playing baseball and football and spending summers on the beaches of Gulf Shores. Alex attended the University of South Alabama in Mobile, earning a degree in psychology and working as a student ambassador where he met his wife, Lindsey. He stuck around for medical school, discovering a passion for general internal medicine. Since moving to Nashville, Alex has enjoyed the Nashville sports scene, frequenting Titans, Preds, and Sounds home games. During residency, he’s become co-host of the Vanderbilt Internal Medicine Residency Podcast, a public podcast dedicated to medical education with content created by our own residents. Alex is looking forward to PGY-3 and continuing to learn from his co-residents, fellows, and attendings at Vanderbilt! Member of AOA

Stacy Blank was born in Dover, Delaware but quickly moved back to her parents’ hometown of Hebron, IN (in The Region) by the age of 1 to ensure Chicago sports fandom. She played a large variety of sports in high school, but was a science nerd at heart; so she packed her running shoes and softball cleats away when she headed for Indiana University where she studied chemistry and Spanish. Continuing as a Hoosier, Stacy attended IU medical school in Indianapolis where she developed her interest in academic medicine and a future career in Med-Peds. Outside of medicine Stacy enjoys reading, running, hiking, watching IU basketball, and trying new restaurants. She is very excited to explore Nashville and join the Vanderbilt community! Member of AOA.

Emily was born in Chattanooga, TN and moved to Louisville, KY when she was 10 years old. She moved north to New York University for college, where she studied French and sociology and spent a year studying and eating croissants in Paris. During her time at NYU, she developed interests in community health and social determinants of health. After graduation, she went west to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she worked as a case manager at an HIV clinic and found her love for both medicine and hatch green chili. She moved back to Louisville, where she attended medical school and became passionate about primary care and healthcare for the underserved. In her free time, Emily loves to run, bike, and spend time with her rescue mutt and husband. She is thrilled to begin her Med-Peds training at Vanderbilt and can’t wait to get back to her Tennessee roots. Member of AOA.

Michael was born in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and grew up watching space shuttle launches and oddly avoiding the beach. For college, he attended the University of Central Florida, majoring in molecular and microbiology with a minor in piano. Throughout his time there he developed a passion for teaching while instructing undergraduate labs in immunology, microbiology, and anatomy…and temporarily lost his passion for music while playing piano for weddings. He remained at UCF for medical school, where he enjoyed tutoring, leading UCF’s own a cappella group “Residual Volume,” and volunteering to bring healthcare to underserved areas. He enjoys hiking, craft beer, strong coffee, and cooking various permutations of food served on tortillas. Member of AOA.

Catherine was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky and stayed close to home for college, attending Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. While at Centre she majored in biochemistry & molecular biology. Catherine returned to Lexington to attend medical school at the University of Kentucky. While at UK she developed an interest in medical education and is passionate about wellness for physicians and physicians-in-training. Outside of medicine, Catherine enjoys hiking (and most other outdoor activities), spending time with friends and family, and hanging out with her pup, Cooper. She is looking forward to exploring both the Tennessee parks and all that Nashville has to offer. Member of AOA.

JJ grew up in a town north of Chicago, where you’d be hard pressed to find him inside; you’d have better luck if you checked the neighborhood field, court, park or ravine. He played football and basketball in high school and then headed to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania to attend Bucknell University. While at Bucknell JJ’s biggest accomplishment was winning over his amazing wife, Morgan. JJ took a gap year in Managua, Nicaragua, where he learned how to sweat and speak Spanish. During his year in Central America “Hota Hota” affirmed a strong passion for global health and during medical school he continued to work in Nicaragua, conducting a study on barriers to contraceptive use among adolescents. During third year of residency, JJ and Morgan had a son named Jack. He is a ball of joy and has been life’s best experience. JJ feels very fortunate and supported as he builds his young family in Nashville. Member of AOA.

Alicia grew up in River Forest, IL, a western suburb of Chicago. She is the youngest child of three and the only girl, and has thoroughly enjoyed this distinction. For her undergraduate studies, Alicia attended Washington University in St. Louis, where she majored in women and gender studies and minored in French. Prior to medical school, Alicia worked as the electronic medical records transition manager for her father’s primary care practice in Chicago, and served as the health education and screening coordinator for a small public health organization in the area part time. Interested in a career of public health research and policy, Alicia attended the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine for medical school, during which she was awarded the American Society of Hematology Physician Scientist Career Development Award to support her thesis research on health services administration in the pediatric sickle cell population. Alicia is passionate about healthcare outcomes and cost-effectiveness research, intra-professional collaboration, and breaking the cycle of disease and poverty through high quality patient care.