Faculty Spotlight

Staff Nurse Practioner In the past year or so that she’s been part of the Neurology team at Vanderbilt, staff nurse practitioner Kristen Pilote has expanded her clinic to include both stroke and cognitive neurology practice. Her background as a primary care practitioner gives her a unique, wide lens with which to view neurology cases. In her free time, she enjoys learning new things, most recently through golf and dance lessons, as well as DIY projects and travel.

Assistant Professor, Neuroimmunology Division

Assistant Professor, Movement Disorders Division

Professor, Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology

Andrew Girithiran, MD Assistant Professor, Movement Disorders Division First, tell us a little about your background and how your path led to Vanderbilt.

Dr. Amy Brown completed her fellowship in movement disorders at Vanderbilt prior to joining the faculty in 2020. With a focus on following patients in clinic and working on clinical trials, her current career path also involves time in the operating room with Deep Brain Stimulation [DBS] patients which ironically connects to her earlier master’s research in neurobiology. In her free time, she enjoys reading, boating, outdoor dining with her family, and attempting her new slackline.

Dr. Keerthana Akkineni joined the Vanderbilt Neurology faculty as a neurohospitalist in August of 2020. In that time, her positive relationships with her colleagues and residents with whom she works closely have brightened even the most challenging days.

Dr. Stephanie Taylor’s chance class sign-up with her roommate freshman year of undergrad rather serendipitously set the course for her neurology career. After joining the faculty following her residency (also at Vanderbilt), Dr. Taylor has been primarily a clinician with a heart for MS patients.

Joy Derwenskus, DO Associate Professor of Neurology Division Head, General Neurology