Dr. Viviana Jimenez is paving her own way on the road to becoming a sports neurologist. By tailoring electives and other research activities to these interests, she has enjoyed getting a solid foundation in neurology before pursuing a fellowship in sports neurology next year. Dr. Jimenez has learned the importance of work-life balance, and she focuses her time off with Orange Theory workouts, traveling, and reading. She enjoys all Nashville has to offer, especially Two Peruvian Chefs, the food truck that reminds her of home.
Tell us about your background.
I was born in Quito, Ecuador, but my whole family is Peruvian. We moved to Miami when I was three for my dad’s job, so I grew up in Miami. Most of my family is still in Peru. I went to the University of Miami for both undergrad and medical school. In undergrad, I studied neuroscience, and got a minor in sports medicine. I knew early on that I wanted to do neurology, and I found an exciting path to that via sports neurology.
I am really interested in concussion and traumatic brain injury [TBI], as well as chronic traumatic encephalopathy [CTE] and all the research behind that. When I found out there was such a thing as a sports neurology fellowship, I knew that was what I wanted to do before I even knew I would do a neurology residency.
After residency, I’ll be going to Cedar Sinai for the sports neurology fellowship. There you get lots of on the field practice with a variety of sports at different levels.
What does a career as a sports neurologist look like?
My ultimate goal would be to be a team neurologist for a sports team, while also being part of an academic center with a clinic. I like the on-the-field exposure. Anything that allows me to work one on one with athletes would be my dream job.
What have been some highlights of your residency so far?
One of the best aspects has been how supportive people are. I don’t think anyone has gone into sports neurology from Vanderbilt before, so I was kind of nervous about that. But everyone here has been supportive, helping tailor my electives and reaching out to other programs to help connect me with other sports neurologists. For example, I’ve done a lot of research with the neurosurgery department because of their huge concussion database.
I’ve also appreciated the amount of subspecialties we have here at Vanderbilt. Apart from sports, I just want to be a good fundamental neurologist, and you just get such a broad variety of experiences at Vanderbilt.
What made Vanderbilt a good fit for you, even without a specific sports neurology program?
I think I was part of the last class of in-person interviews [before COVID]. I just clicked with the residents here. I got the feeling that everyone got along. Nashville itself was a good selling point—it’s a relatively big city and close to other places to travel. It is a different environment from Miami, but it still has a big city feel where you can never run out of things to do.
Who have been some important mentors or support figures along the way?
Personally, my older sister, who is 12 years older than me, has always been a mentor for me. She’s been my biggest supporter in life, and I’ve always known I can always call her. Medically, some of the residents in the classes above me who have now become my attendings have become really good mentors. Particularly Dr. Meriweather and some of the stroke attendings like Dr. Zimmerman and Dr. Kerrigan have been super helpful along the way.
What about challenges or obstacles you have had to overcome?
I think moving to a new city and not knowing anyone at the beginning of residency made it tough to find a work-life balance to cope with long hours. But I have had really great co-residents who have become really great friends. Plus I met my fiancé in Nashville, so it’s been pretty great.
What piece of advice would you give to the new residents just starting this summer?
They seem great—really energetic. I would encourage them to go for a healthy work-life balance. It’s important to have something you like to do outside of work, and to prioritize and make time for that thing, no matter how tired or worn out you feel.
What does that balance look like for you?
I like working out a lot. I do Orange Theory Fitness and that’s been my go-to workout since medical school. I like running outside as well. I love traveling too. If I have a two- or three-day weekend I try to go home to Miami or go to a new city I haven't been. I love that you can get places quickly from Nashville.
What's one book (or movie, or place, etc.) that you think everyone should read?
Medically, the book I still think about is When Breath Becomes Air. I think everyone in the medical field should read that. It’s about a neurosurgeon who finishes residency then finds out he has cancer. Our work as doctors is pretty tough, but it’s not our whole lives. This book puts things in perspective.
My favorite movie is Remember the Titans. It’s one of the inspirations for my interest in sports neurology, so I think everyone should watch it!
I like to read a lot. Recently I’ve read a lot of fun rom-com books. I’ve been reading a lot of Colleen Hoover’s books, such as It Ends With Us.
What are some of your favorite Nashville haunts?
A staple is Taco Mama. It’s a place you go after work. You get a good taco and relax with friends. There is one good Peruvian food truck called Two Peruvian Chefs. It’s the most authentic Peruvian food I’ve found in Nashville. It's good to have that reminder of home.
