Jessica Vaughan, MD

I’m a child neurology resident in the Pediatric Residency Training Program. Currently, I am interested in pediatric neurocritical care within this field. I understand that being in the hospital is scary and stressful, not only for the child but also for the parents. I provide family-friendly care by making everyone feel comfortable and addressing their worries. I will always listen to their concerns and ideas because they are the most important members of our treatment team, and I value their opinions and preferences.

Growing up, I was a pre-professional and competitive dancer. The artistry required to tell a story through choreography was breathtaking. Behind the curtain, graceful movements were perfected through thoughtful direction and fine-tuned technique. I continued to explore this passion by becoming a dance teacher. Seeing my students blossom and succeed was my favorite part. In addition to my creative side, I was simultaneously drawn to the medical field as a patient. The science behind medicine sparked my curiosity to learn more, and this especially holds true for neurology.

The numerous and varied complex pathologies and diagnostic techniques within neurology appealed both to my artistic and scientific sides. Combining this with my love of working with children, I knew I wanted to pursue child neurology as a career. This desire to become a child neurologist led me to complete my medical degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. During medical school, I became involved in pediatric stroke research within the Department of Neurology at Cincinnati Children’s. I was fortunate to have multiple mentors as models for excellent patient care. Like them, I aspire to walk beside my patients and their families throughout their journeys.

I received the Junior Investigator Travel Award (2020) from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association at the International Stroke Conference. I was recognized as an early career investigator who had significant involvement in designing, executing and analyzing research presented at the conference.

In my spare time, I still take dance classes occasionally after work. I also love taking Pure Barre classes, which I highly recommend to everyone. My other favorite hobby is embroidery, and I’m always working on new projects. Most importantly, seeing friends and family is my priority, and I am fortunate to have a fantastic support system.