Robert L. Macdonald is professor and Chair Emeritus of Neurology, as well as professor of Pharmacology and Professor of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics.

An accomplished lecturer, Dr. Macdonald is a frequently invited speaker at universities and meetings around the country and around the world. He has served on a variety of review boards and committees, has participated in a number of study sections, and has served as a consultant in establishing epilepsy programs at Duke University and the Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Macdonald is licensed to practice medicine in Tennessee, and has been a member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology since 1979.

Dr. Macdonald has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Cotzias Award and Lecture of the American Academy of Neurology in 1996, the Milken Basic Neurosciences Award Epilepsy of the American Epilepsy Society in 1997, the Foundation of Michigan Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 and the Clinical Teaching Award in Neurology at Vanderbilt in 2002.

Dr. Macdonald earned a SB degree in Electrical Engineering in 1966 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He attended two years of medical school at Case Western Reserve University, and then transferred to the University of Virginia, where he earned a PhD in Neurophysiology in 1969. Dr. Macdonald stayed at the University of Virginia for an NIMH-supported postdoctoral fellowship in Physiology (1969-70), and in 1970 he joined the faculty as assistant professor of Physiology. Two years later, he enrolled in medical school there and earned his MD in 1973. He stayed at UVa for an internship in Medicine and a residency in Neurology, following which he also served as research assistant professor of Neurology and as a research associate in the Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology at the NICHHD.

In 1978, Dr. Macdonald joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as an associate professor of Neurology. He was made professor of Neurology in 1981, professor of Physiology in 1982, and in 1995 was named the Russell N. DeJong Professor of Neurology. He stayed at Michigan until 2001, when he moved to Vanderbilt to assume chairmanship of Vanderbilt’s department of Neurology. He has been professor of Neurology, Pharmacology, and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics since that time.

Dr. Lee is Associate Professor of Neurology in the Neuromuscular Division at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. His clinic work includes serving patients with ALS, myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, polyneuropathy, and he also is part of the inpatient teleneurology consult team.

Dr. Lee has a strong interest in medical student and resident education, serving in roles of Associate Program Director, Master Clinical Teacher for clerkship students, and as a Portfolio Coach, working with a section of the class of 2020 longitudinally through their four-year student careers. In 2018, he was appointed Program Director for the Neurology Residency. He has taken leadership roles in the transition of electronic medical records systems at Vanderbilt, the creation of a practice feedback self-assessment project for all of the neurology residents, and in the development of neurohospitalist roles within Vanderbilt University Hospital.

He is the co-chair of the ventilation committee of the Northeast ALS Consortium (ALS) and has publications in muscle ultrasound in ALS, epidemiology of Guillain-Barre syndrome and other disorders, among other publications.

He is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. Dr. Lee is a Fellow of the American Neurological Association.

Dr. Lee graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College in 2000 with a degree in Mathematics. He earned his M.D. at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 2004. His internship and residency in Neurology were at Vanderbilt University, where he served as Neurology Chief Resident from 2007-2008. He completed a Clinical Neurophysiology fellowship with an emphasis in neuromuscular disorders at Vanderbilt in June 2009, and was subsequently appointed as Associate Professor of Neurology. In 2011, he received a Master’s of Public Health (MPH) degree from Vanderbilt. 

Presentations at Scientific Meetings: 

• Brown DM, Clary RS, Lee CD, Monroe WG, Vaughn DA, Ragheb RT, Erter JW, Schiraldi DA. A green, one-pot, preparative route to the biphenyldicarboxylic acids and mechanical properties of polyesters based on these monomers. Poster presented by Dr. Schiraldi at the 219^th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Francisco, CA, March, 2000. Polym Preprints 2000, 41: 123–124 
• Lee CD, Song Y, Peltier AC, Donofrio, PD. Muscle ultrasound quantifies the rate of reduction of muscle thickness in ALS patients. Poster presentation at the 62^nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, Toronto, Canada. April 13, 2010. 
• Lee CD, Jones TF. Hospital discharge database optimization in Guillain-Barré Syndrome surveillance. Poster presentation at the American Neurological Association 136^th Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA. September 26, 2011. [peer-reviewed]
• Lee CD, Butka B, Donofrio P. Frequency of accelerated loss of ventilatory function in ALS. Poster presentation at the 11^th Annual Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) Annual Meeting. Clearwater, FL. October 25, 2012. [peer-reviewed]
• Lee CD, Butka B, Donofrio P. Weekly Home-based Monitoring Alerts Clinicians of Loss of Ventilatory Function in ALS. Platform presentation at the 13^th Annual Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) Annual Meeting. Clearwater, FL. October 23, 2014. [peer-reviewed and selected for platform session]
• Lee CD, Brooks B. Symposium on respiratory assist devices and pulmonary support for patients with ALS. October 2, 2018. Clearwater, FL.

Dr. Lavin is Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, specializing in Neuro-Ophthalmology, Vestibular disorders, and Headache. He joined the faculty at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 1983 as assistant professor in the Department of Neurology with a secondary appointment in Ophthalmology. He was promoted to associate professor in 1989, and professor in 2001. Dr. Lavin has served as director of the Ocular Motility Laboratory and director of the Transcranial Doppler Laboratory.

Dr. Lavin graduated from University College in Dublin, Ireland in 1964, and attended University College Medical School in Dublin, where he earned his MB, BCh and BAO degrees in 1970.

Dr. Lavin served as an intern in Medicine and Surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Elm Park, Dublin. He was senior house officer during his residency in Medicine at St. Vincent’s Hospital from 1971–1973. He spent a short time in general practice in Nova Scotia, Canada before becoming a senior resident in General Medicine at Leicester General Hospital. He was a senior resident in Neurology at Leicester Royal Infirmary, then St. James University Hospital and Chapel Allerton Hospital in Leeds until 1978, when he became a research fellow at Charing Cross Hospital in London.

Dr. Lavin served as an internist at James Connolly Memorial Hospital and Dublin and Our Lady’s Hospital before becoming a Registrar in Neurology at Adelaide  and St. Vincent’s Hospitals in 1980. Dr. Lavin served as Chief Resident in Neurology at CWRU in Cleveland, Ohio, and went on to become a fellow in Neuro-ophthalmology in the University. He became an instructor in Neurology at CWRU in 1982.

Dr. Lagrange is Associate Professor of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, specializing in epilepsy. In addition to his laboratory and clinical research activities, Dr. Lagrange is involved in the teaching and mentoring of residents, fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and also serves as ad hoc reviewer for Epilepsia, Epilepsy & Behavior, Epilepsy Research, Journal of Physiology, Neurology and Neuropharmacology. 

Dr. Lagrange’s honors include being the past recipient of a William Penry Epilepsy Minifellowship (2000) and the American Academy of Neurology Residents Scholarship (2001). He is also a fellow of the American Epilepsy Society and American Neurological Association.

Dr. Lagrange earned BS degrees is both Chemistry and Biology (with Honors) at the University of Washington in 1987. He earned a PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology in 1996 and a MD in 1997, both at the Oregon Health Sciences University, while supported by a NIMH pre-doctoral NRSA fellowship. The next year he did an internal medicine internship at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI, followed by Neurology residency (1998-2001) and Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship (2001-02) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He joined the faculty at Vanderbilt as Assistant Professor in 2002, and was later promoted to Associate Professor.

Dr. Koons is an Assistant Professor in the Movement Disorders Division at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Neurology Department. She currently follows movement disorders patients at VUMC, as well as the Nashville Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center. 

In addition to patient care, Dr. Koons is actively involved in education. She served as the Neurology Department’s Residency Program Director and continues to serve as the Associate Program Director. She is the VA neurology rotation site director for Vanderbilt neurology residents, Meharry Medical College psychiatry residents, and Meharry Medical College internal medicine residents, along with coordinating Vanderbilt psychiatry outpatient neurology rotations. She is also the site director for the Meharry Medical College occupational health residents. She directs the Deep Brain Stimulation elective for Vanderbilt medical students. 

Dr. Koons has remained active in global health, having previously spent time working in Lusaka, Zambia, Gaborone, Botswana, and Georgetown, Guyana. She participates in Vanderbilt's Institute for Global Health, "Global Health Education Subcommittee for GME."

Dr. Koons received her B.A. degree (with distinction) in Neuroscience and Religious Studies from the University of Virginia in 2002. She received her medical degree from the Yale School of Medicine in 2006. She completed her internship in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she also completed her neurology residency. She served as chief resident for the neurology residency in her final year. After completing her training, she continued her time at Vanderbilt as an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Neurology while spending a year as the Consultant Neurologist at Bokamoso Private Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana. She returned to Nashville and Vanderbilt as a lecturer in the General Neurology Division and Fellow in the Movement Disorders Division, and was subsequently appointed to faculty.

Dr. Kirk Kleinfeld is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. As a general neurologist, he evaluates and treats a wide array of neurological conditions primarily in the outpatient clinical setting in Franklin, TN. Dr. Kleinfeld is certified in both Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

Dr. Kleinfeld completed his internship and Neurology residency at VUMC, followed by a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology with a focus on EEG/evoked potentials and EMG/nerve conduction, also at Vanderbilt. Prior to his current position, he served as an attending physician at the Brain and Spine Center at St. Luke’s Hospital in Missouri. He completed his undergraduate coursework at the University of Evansville, and subsequently earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Dr. Kirshner is a professor of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Hearing and Speech Sciences. He also holds the positions of vice chairman for the Department of Neurology, director of the Vanderbilt Stroke Center, consultant at the Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital, and chief of the Neurology Stroke Division. He formerly served as the Founding Director of the Vanderbilt Stroke Service, and the division head of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology. Dr. Kirshner is board certified in Neurology, Vascular Neurology, and Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry. He has served on the Editorial Boards of Neurology and Stroke, and he serves as the Book Review Editor for Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Behavioral Neurology Editor for Current Reviews in Neurology and Neuroscience, and Editor for MedLink Neurology.

Dr. Kirshner earned his B.A. from Williams College in 1968, graduating summa cum laude. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1972, cum laude, and served as an intern in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Kirshner spent two years as a staff associate in the Laboratory of Perinatal Physiology at the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke from 1973-1975. He completed his residency in Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and also served a clinical fellowship at Harvard Medical School from 1975 – 1978. In 1978, Dr. Kirshner joined the faculty at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine as assistant professor in neurology. In 1980 he also took an adjunct position as assistant professor of the Division of Hearing and Speech Sciences, and later in Psychiatry, and he became an associate professor in both entities in 1983.

Dr. Kerrigan practices both general and vascular neurology and is licensed to practice medicine in Tennessee and Kentucky. She has been a member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology since 2018. In addition to her clinical practice at both the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Nashville VA Medical Center, Dr. Kerrigan is active with telemedicine. As an Assistant Professor of Medicine, Dr. Kerrigan is involved with medical student, resident, and fellow education.

Dr. Kerrigan earned a BS in both Elementary Education and Psychology concentrating in Neuroscience in 2006 from Vanderbilt University. She then performed medical research and completed a post-baccalaureate, pre-medical program, earning a MA in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis in 2010. She earned her MD from Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 2014 and then completed her Neurology residency and a Vascular Neurology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. She joined the faculty of Vanderbilt in August 2019.

Dr. Jing-Qiong (Katty) Kang is an associate professor specialized in epilepsy in the Vanderbilt University Department of Neurology since September 2016. She is also a faculty member in Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. 

Dr. Kang has been invited to present her work in multiple institutes and conferences nationally and internationally. Most recently, she has spoken at American Epilepsy Meeting (AES), Fukuoka University Medical School, Case Western Reserve University, Beijing Tiantan Neurosurgery Summit. She has been the chair for Basic Mechanisms and Neuroscience symposium at the AES meeting from 2015-2018. Dr. Kang is an award recipient of Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE), Dravet.org (formerly known as IDEA-League), Dravet syndrome foundation (DSF) and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). She is currently leading a large effort for developing treatment options for GABA transporter 1 encoding SLC6A1 mediated epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Kang received her MD/PhD degree from Tongji Medical University, China. Prior to that, she worked at Tongji Hospital. She joined Dr. Kenneth Maiese in the Wayne State University Department of Neurology in August 2001 to study neurodegeneration before she joined Dr. Robert Macdonald’s lab at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2003. 

Dr. Angela L. Jefferson is a licensed clinical psychologist, Professor of Neurology, and Founding Director of the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is principal investigator of the Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project, a longitudinal cohort study examining the complex intersection of vascular health and Alzheimer’s disease, and she is Director of the NIA-funded P20 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center where she leads the Tennessee Alzheimer’s Project. Dr. Jefferson has extensive leadership and research experiences in the fields of cerebrovascular aging and Alzheimer’s disease. She serves as a member of the Alzheimer’s Association’s International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment Advisory Council.

Dr. Jefferson has a long-standing commitment to professional education and training. She has held an NIA-funded K24 mentorship award since 2013, providing protected time to support the professional development of early career clinician scientists. She is the Director of the NIA-funded Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Training Program in Alzheimer’s Disease (T32), and she is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the prestigious Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Program.