Positions

Associate Professor

Neurology
Baylor College of Medicine

Addresses

Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center, McNair Campus (Clinic)

7200 Cambridge Street
Suite 9A
Houston, TX 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 798-2273
pdcmdc@bcm.edu

Education

Fellowship at NIH/NINDS - NeuroNEXT - CTMC

11/2019 - New York, New York United States

Clinical Fellowship at National Institutes of Health (NIH)

12/2015 - Bethesda, Maryland United States

Residency at North Shore - Long Island Jewish

06/2013 - Manhasset, New York United States

MD from Universidad de Antioquia

12/2005 - Medellin, Colombia

Certifications

TMB

Professional Interests

• Movement Disorders
• Parkinson's Disease
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• Dementia
• Dystonia
• Essential Tremor

Professional Statement

I am an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Director of Neuromodulation Research at Baylor College of Medicine. After finishing Neurology Residency and having served as Chief Resident at North Shore University Hospital in New York, I completed a combined clinical-research fellowship with an emphasis on neuroimaging and neuromodulation, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). I then transitioned to Columbia University where I spent 4 fruitful years of my early career as an Assistant Professor of Neurology. I joined Baylor College of Medicine as Director of Neuromodulation Research for the Department of Neurology in 2020. My clinical and research efforts focus on the use of neuromodulation therapies for the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions, including Parkinson's Disease, dystonia, essential tremor and depression. In addition, I serve as Principal Investigator for industry-sponsored clinical trials aiming to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with neurodegenerative conditions. I successfully mentor fellows and students in the development and execution of their research projects and as a bilingual neurologist (English and Spanish), it is my priority to provide high quality compassionate care to diverse patient populations.

Websites

Professional Development

Clinical Trials Methodology Course

Course (Participant, 2019)

Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

The role of this course is to foster the career development of clinical investigators on the design and execution of successful clinical trials.

Selected Publications

• Yang AI, Vanegas N, Lungu C, Zaghloul KA "Beta-coupled high-frequency activity and beta-locked neuronal spiking in the subthalamic nucleus of Parkinson's disease." J Neurosci. 2014;34(38):12816-27. Pubmed PMID: 25232117
• Rutherford BR, Slifstein M, Chen C, Abi-Dargham A, Brown PJ, Wall MW, et al "Effects of L-DOPA monotherapy on psychomotor speed and [(11)c]raclopride binding in high-risk older adults with depression." Biol Psychiatry. 2019;86(3):221-9. Pubmed PMID: 31178096
• Pretegiani E, Vanegas-Arroyave N, FitzGibbon EJ, Hallett M, Optican LM "Evidence from Parkinson's disease that the superior colliculus couples action and perception." Mov Disord. 2019;34(11):1680-9. Pubmed PMID: 31633242
• Vanegas N, Zaghloul K, Hallett M, Lungu C "Leg movements during general anesthesia." Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2016;3(5):510-2. Pubmed PMID: 28239614

Projects

Exploring the effects of Spinal Cord Stimulation in gait and locomotion in Parkinson’s Disease.

White matter tractography correlates of apathy in Parkinson Disease.

Memberships

Movement Disorders Society (MDS)

(07/2013)

American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

(07/2010)

Parkinson’s Study Group (PSG)

Credentialed Investigator

Languages

Spanish