Faculty

Current Faculty

  • Italo Biaggioni, MD

    Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology
    Director, Vanderbilt Autonomic Dysfunction Center

    Research Interests- Neural (autonomic) and metabolic (adenosine, nitric oxide, and angiotensin) interactions in cardiovascular regulation, autonomic disorders, and autonomic mechanisms in obesity Hypertension.

    Patient Care Interests- Autonomic Dysfunction, Orthostatic Hypotension, Supine Hypertension, afferent Baroreflex Failure, and Syncope.

    Education

    • Fellowship- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1977
    • Residency- Universidad Cayetano Heredia, Perú
    • Post-Graduate Training- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
    • Internship- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Perú
    • M.D. Degree- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Perú, 1978

    Publications

  • Cyndya Shibao, MD, MSCI, FAHA, FAAS

    Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology

    Research Interests- Treatment of Neurogenic Orhtostatic Hypotension, Norepinephrine Transporter Inhibitors, Racial Difference in Autonomic Contribution to Hypertension in Obesity, Autonomic Contribution to Energy Metabolism, Clinical Trials in Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension and Postprandial Hypotension, Comparative Effectiveness and Safety in Orthostatic Hypotension Drugs, and epidemiology of Orthostatic Hypotension.

    Education

    • Residency- Internal Medicine Residency Program Research Pathway, Vanderbilt University, 2008
    • Internship- Internal Medicine Residency Program Research Pathway, Vanderbilt University, 2007
    • Research Fellowship- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, 2003
    • M.D. Degree- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Perú, 2001
    • Bachelor of Human Medicine- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Perú, 2001

    Board Certification

    • Autonomic Disorder, 2011
    • Internal Medicine, 2009

    Publications

  • Amanda C Peltier, MD, MS

    Professor of Neurology and Medicine, Chief of Neuromuscular Division, Associate Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs, ALS/MDA Clinical Director, Neuromuscular Fellowship Director, & President Elect of the American Autonomic Society
    Department of Neurology and Neuromuscular

    Research Interests- Peripheral Neuropathy, Diabetic Neuropathy, Amyloid Neuropathy, autonomic disorders, and identification of secondary endpoints for clinical trials in Neuropathy.

    Education

    • MS- University of Michigan, 2005
    • Fellowship- University of Michigan, 2005
    • Internship- University of Michigan, 1998 - 1999
    • MD- Ohio State University, 1998

    Certification

    • Autonomic Disorder, 2021
    • Neuromuscular Medicine, 2008
    • Neurology, 2003

    Publications

  • James Muldowney, III, MD

    Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology

    Patient Care Interests- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Syncope, Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, Autonomic Failure, Autonomic Function Testing, Tilt Table Testing, General Cardiology, Transesophageal Echocardiography, and anticoagulation therapy.

    Education

    • Fellowship- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2006
    • Residency- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 2001
    • Internship- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 2000
    • MD- Vanderbilt University, 1999

    Board Certification

    • Echocardiography- National Board of Echocardiography, 2011
    • Cardiovascular Diseases- American Board of Internal Medicine, 2006

    Publications

  • Ralf C Habermann, MD, MMHC

    Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Autonomic Dysfunction Center & Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Nashville campus;
    Medical Director, Bethany Center for Vanderbilt Primary Care Village, Kindred Hospice, and Mur-Ci Homes.

    Patient Care Interests- Geriatric medicine, palliative care, rehabilitation and healing, and autonomic dysfunction.

    Education

    • Fellowship- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2000
    • Residency- Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, 1995
    • MD- Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany
    • Master of Management Healthcare- Vanderbilt University

    Publications

  • Kishan Tarpara, DO

    Assistant Professor, Sleep Division, Department of Neurology

    Patient Care Interests- Sleep and Neurological Disorders; and Autonomic Dysfunction.

    Education

    • MS- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Residency- Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
    • Fellowship- Autonomic Disorders, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
    • Fellowship- Sleep Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX

    Certifications

    • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, board certified in Neurology, 2020
    • United Council for Neurological Subspecialities, board certified in Autonomic Disorders, 2022
    • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, eligible in Sleep Medicine

  • Daniel Carranza, MD

    Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology

  • Morgane Giesecke, MSN, FNP-C

    Nurse Practitioner, Division of Clinical Pharmacology

    Patient Care Interests- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), autonomic failure, syncope, and research related to autonomic failure.

    Education

    • MSN- Frontier Nursing University, KY -  2018
    • BS- State University of New York at Plattsburgh, NY - 2011

    Board Certification

    • Family Nurse Practitioner, 2018

  • Yuliya Vance, AGPCNP-BC

    Nurse Practitioner
    Division of Clinical Pharmacology

    Patient Care Interests- Orthostatic hypotension, autonomic failure, and research related to autonomic failure.

    Education

    • MSN- Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, TN - 2022
    • BSN- Mount Carmel College of Nursing, OH - 2008

    Board Certification

    • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, 2022

  • André Diedrich, MD, PhD

    Research Professor of Medicine & Biochemical Engineering
    Paul Dudley White International Scholar

    Research Interests- The autonomic nervous system, autonomic cardiovascular control, blood pressure regulation, and muscle sympathetic neural activity.

    Education

    • Fellowship-  Vanderbilt University, 1997
    • Fellowship- European Space Agency, Visiting Scientist Virginia Commenwealth University, 1996
    • PhD- Charite Hospital, Humboltd University, Berlin, Germany, 1991
    • Residency- Charite Hospital Humboltd University, Berlin, Germany, 1990
    • Internship- Charite Hospital Humboltd University, Berlin, Germany, 1986 
    • Medical Cybernetics- 2nd Medical Institute in Moscow, Russia, 1985
    • MD- 2nd Medical Institute in Moscow, Russia, 1985
    • BA- Mathematics and Physics, Martin Luther University, Halle, Germany, 1979

    Licensure/Certification

    • Dr. med (PhD), Germany
    • Dipl. Mediziner (MD), Germany

    Award

    • Paul Dudley White International Scholar, American Heart Association, Joint Hypertension Scientific Sessions, 2018

    Publications

  • Alfredo Gamboa, MD, MSCI, FAHA

    Research Assistant Professor of Medicine

    Research Interests- Interactions between the autonomic nervous system and nitric oxide in the regulation of blood pressure in normal physiology and disease states, and the impact of increased sympathetic activity on impaired nitric oxide function as seen in obesity-associated Hypertension.

    Education

    • MSCI- Vanderbilt University, 2008
    • Fellowship- Vanderbilt University, 2002 - 2005
    • Visiting Scholar- Oxford University. UK, 2001 - 2002
    • M.D. Degree- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Perú, 1999
    • Internship- Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Perú, 1996 - 1998
    • Bachelor of Human Medicine- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima Perú, 1998

    Publications

  • Luis Okamoto, MD

    Research Assistant Professor

    Research Interests- Role of the autonomic nervous system in splanchnic capacitance and circadian rhythms, pathophysiology and treatment of Supine Hypertension and Orthostatic Hypotension in Autonomic Failure, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

    Education

    • Fellowship- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2007
    • MD- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Perú, 2001
    • Bachelor of Human Medicine- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Perú, 2001

    Publications

Adjunct Faculty

  • Amy Arnold, PhD

    Assistant Professor

    Research Interests- Role of renin-angiotensin system in regulation of blood pressure and energy balance in animal models and clinical populations; pathophysiology and treatment of cardiovascular autonomic disorders including Primary Autonomic Failure and Postural Tachycardia; and cognitive dysfunction in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome. 

    Education

    • MSCI- Vanderbilt University, 2014
    • PhD- Wake Forest University, 2009
    • BS- Pacific University, 2004

    Publications

  • Rose M Robertson, MD, FACC, FAHA

    Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
    Chief Science Officer, American Heart Association

    Research Interests- Autonomic nervous system, autonomic cardiovascular control, blood pressure regulation, Syncope, neurodegenerative disease, ethnic differences in cardiovascular control, and cardiovascular disease in women.

    Publications

Past Faculty

  • David Robertson, MD

    Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Pharmacology, and Neurology
    Founder of the Autonomic Dysfunction Center
    Former Director of the Autonomic Dysfunction Center and the Clinical Research Center
    Former Director of the Center for Space Physiology & Medicine and the Center for Molecular Neuroscience

    Education

    • Fellowship- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1977
    • Residency- Johns Hopkins University Hospital, 1975
    • Internship- Johns Hopkins University Hospital, 1974
    • M.D. Degree- Vanderbilt University, 1973

    Publications

  • Emily M Garland, PhD, MSCI

    Research Associate Professor, Clinical Pharmacology

    Research Interests- The autonomic nervous system, dopamine, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, blood pressure regulation, blood volume, progression of autonomic disorders, and biomarkers useful for the disease diagnosis and progression.

    Education

    • MSCI- Vanderbilt University, 2005
    • PhD- University of Maryland, Biochemical Pharmacology, 1982
    • BS- Duke University, Psychology, 1973

    Publications