SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

After graduating from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in 2005 with a Masters in Nursing Science, Alison has practiced as an Adult Nurse Practitioner in a variety of settings. The majority of her work experience has involved treating patients with painful conditions. She currently works with a specialist seeing complicated patients with fibromyalgia and rheumatological conditions. She also serves as an expert witness on over-prescribing cases for the State of Tennessee. Due to her personal interests and studies, as well as her current patient population, she has chosen to pursue a PhD at Vanderbilt University studying brain imaging in dementia and Alzheimer’s. After completing the PhD, she plans to pursue post-doctoral work and establish an independent lab to exam pain and brain processing in adult populations utilizing experimental pain assessment techniques and brain imaging methods to help guide improved nursing assessment and management techniques in people with dementia who have difficulty communicating.