Christina Vaughan, MD

Associate Professor, Neurology


FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, University at Buffalo State University of New York School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2006)
Graduate Schools
  • MHS, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health (2000)
  • MS, Rush University Medical Center (2012)
Undergraduate School
  • BS, University of Rochester (NY) (1997)
Internship
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2007)
Residency
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Chief Resident, Neurology (2010)
Fellowships
  • Scripps Clinic/Scripps Green Hospital/UCSD Program, Hospice and Palliative Medicine (2017)
  • Rush University Medical Center Program, Movement Disorders (Neurology) (2012)
Languages
English
Department
Neurology

Professional Titles

  • Associate Professor Neurology and Medicine
  • Neuropalliative Care Specialist
  • Division Chief, Section of Neuropalliative Care

Publications

  • Hirst JM, Vaughan CL, Irwin SA. Delirium: Use Antipsychotics When Appropriate and Appropriately. J Palliat Med. 2017 Aug;20(8):799. PubMed PMID: 28410450
  • Beck CA, Beran DB, Biglan KM, Boyd CM, Dorsey ER, Schmidt PN, Simone R, Willis AW, Galifianakis NB, Katz M, Tanner CM, Dodenhoff K, Aldred J, Carter J, Fraser A, Jimenez-Shahed J, Hunter C, Spindler M, Reichwein S, Mari Z, Dunlop B, Morgan JC, McLane D, Hickey P, Gauger L, Richard IH, Mejia NI, Bwala G, Nance M, Shih LC, Singer C, Vargas-Parra S, Zadikoff C, Okon N, Feigin A, Ayan J, Vaughan C, Pahwa R, Dhall R, Hassan A, DeMello S, Riggare SS, Wicks P, Achey MA, Elson MJ, Goldenthal S, Keenan HT, Korn R, Schwarz H, Sharma S, Stevenson EA, Zhu W. National randomized controlled trial of virtual house calls for Parkinson disease. Neurology. 2017 Sep 12;89(11):1152-1161. PubMed PMID: 28814455
  • Frank S, Stamler D, Kayson E, Claassen DO, Colcher A, Davis C, Duker A, Eberly S, Elmer L, Furr-Stimming E, Gudesblatt M, Hunter C, Jankovic J, Kostyk SK, Kumar R, Loy C, Mallonee W, Oakes D, Scott BL, Sung V, Goldstein J, Vaughan C, Testa CM. Safety of Converting From Tetrabenazine to Deutetrabenazine for the Treatment of Chorea. JAMA Neurol. 2017 Aug 1;74(8):977-982. PubMed PMID: 28692723
  • Neuropalliative Care: A Guide to Improving the Lives of Patients and Families Affected by Neurologic Disease. Editors: Creutzfeldt, Claire J., Kluger, Benzi M., Holloway, Robert G. (Eds.) Chapter: Pain Assessment and Management
  • Martin EJ, Vaughan CL, Atayee R, Hirst JM, O’Donnell K, Edmonds KP (2018). Hydromorphone-Induced Chorea as an Atypical Presentation of Opioid Neurotoxicity: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Palliative Medicine
  • Mendlik MT, McFarlin J, Kluger BM, Vaughan CL, Phillips JN, Jones CA. Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Caring for Patients with Neurologic Illnesses. J Palliat Med. 2019 Feb;22(2):193-198. PubMed PMID: 30707071
  • Deuel LM, Yu CH, Vaughan CL, Piquet AL. Oro-Bucco-Lingual Dyskinesia, Weight Loss, and Cognitive Decline in Anti-DPPX Antibody-Mediated Encephalitis. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2020 Sep;7(Suppl 3):S80-S82. PubMed PMID: 33015231
  • Chou CZ, Hopkins TJ, Badiola I, Gazelka HM, Gohil S, Kitt A, Luke WR, Vaughan CL, Jones CA, Varhabhatla N. Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Interventional Pain and Procedures. J Palliat Med. 2020 Oct;23(10):1386-1391. PubMed PMID: 32865443
  • Kluger BM, Vaughan CL, Robinson MT, Creutzfeldt C, Subramanian I, Holloway RG. Neuropalliative care essentials for the COVID-19 crisis. Neurology. 2020 Sep 1;95(9):394-398. PubMed PMID: 32591476
  • Vaughan CL and Goldman JG. Psychosis and Parkinson’s Disease; in Frucht S.J. (ed) Movement Disorder Emergencies: Diagnosis and Treatment, 3rd Edition. [in press]
  • McGehrin K and Vaughan CL. Palliative Skills for Frontline Clinicians; in Aberger K and Wang D (eds): Palliative Skills for Frontline Clinicians: Case Vignettes in Everyday Hospital Medicine. Springer Nature Switzerland, 2020.
  • Subramanian I and Vaughan CL (2020). Hoping for the best, planning for the worst: Palliative care approach to Parkinson disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parkinsonism and Related Disorders. 80: 203–205.
  • Hall DA, Kapur S, Vaughan C, Hawkins J, and Stebbins G (2020). Varenicline for the treatment of postural and gait dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Neurology: Clinical Practice [in press].
  • Kapur S, Vaughan C, Hawkins J, Stebbins G, Hall D. Varenicline for the Treatment of Postural and Gait Dysfunction in Parkinson Disease. Neurol Clin Pract. 2021 Dec;11(6):457-461. PubMed PMID: 34992953
  • Plys E, Vaughan CL, Kutner JS, Berk J, Kolva E. Interdisciplinary neuropalliative care: a unique and valuable clinical training experience for geropsychology trainees. Gerontol Geriatr Educ. 2021 May 27;:1-13. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34044751
  • Frank S, Testa C, Edmondson MC, Goldstein J, Kayson E, Leavitt BR, Oakes D, O'Neill C, Vaughan C, Whaley J, Gross N, Gordon MF, Savola JM. The Safety of Deutetrabenazine for Chorea in Huntington Disease: An Open-Label Extension Study. CNS Drugs. 2022 Nov;36(11):1207-1216. PubMed PMID: 36242718
  • Kluger BM, Kramer NM, Katz M, Galifianakis NB, Pantilat S, Long J, Vaughan CL, Foster LA, Creutzfeldt CJ, Holloway RG, Sillau S, Hauser J. Development and Dissemination of a Neurology Palliative Care Curriculum: Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care Neurology. Neurol Clin Pract. 2022 Apr;12(2):176-182. PubMed PMID: 35747891
  • Drees C, Hixon AM, Sillau S, Lopez-Esquibel N, Spitz M, Mohler R, Baca C, Fetrow K, Gay Brown M, Vaughan C (2022). Physician distress when treatments fail: Survey on physician distress when treating persons with drug-resistant epilepsy and knowledge of neuropalliative care. Epilepsy & Behavior
  • Vaughan CL and Bruno V. What neurologists wish palliative care physicians knew; in Miyasaki JM and Kluger BM (eds): Handbook of Clinical Neurology volume 190, Neuropalliative Care – Part 1. Elsevier, 2022.
  • Kluger BM, Katz M, Galifianakis NB, Pantilat SZ, Hauser JM, Khan R, Friedman C, Vaughan CL, Goto Y, Long SJ, Martin CS, Dini M, McQueen RB, Palmer L, Fairclough D, Seeberger LC, Sillau SH, Kutner JS. Patient and Family Outcomes of Community Neurologist Palliative Education and Telehealth Support in Parkinson Disease. JAMA Neurol. 2023 Nov 13. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 37955923
  • Drees C, Hixon AM, Sillau S, Lopez-Esquibel N, Spitz M, Mohler R, Baca C, Fetrow K, Brown MG, Vaughan C. Physician distress when treatments fail. Survey on physician distress when treating persons with drug-resistant epilepsy and knowledge of neuropalliative care. Epilepsy Behav. 2023 Mar;140:108925. PubMed PMID: 36774670

Professional Memberships

  • International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society, member
  • American Academy of Neurology, member
  • American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, member
  • Colorado Society of Clinical Neurologists, member

Practice Locations

Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Administration Medical Center
1700 Wheeling St
Aurora, CO 80045
303-399-8020

UCHealth Palliative Care - Anschutz Cancer Pavilion
1665 Aurora Court
Anschutz Cancer Pavilion
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-9264

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Neurology, Board Certification (2010)
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Board Certification (2020, 2020)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Brain and Nervous System - Movement Disorders
  • Brain and Nervous System
Clinical Interests
In my clinics I care for patients with serious or life-limiting neurologic disease, focusing on symptom management, coping, planning next steps, and aiding in difficult decision-making. I have a keen interest in identifying the unique palliative care needs of specific populations with neurologic diseases, to identify how best we can help them as a team. In the hospital setting I work with the inpatient Palliative care consult team focusing on relief of pain, stress, and other distressing symptoms of all serious illnesses. *It is never too early to receive Palliative Care when living with a serious illness.*

Care Philosophy
To see each patient in the context of his/her life, identity and family - not just through the lens of the diagnosis. To seek to optimize quality of life for the patient and carer(s) at any stage of disease.

Public Speaking
Yes
I enjoy speaking at patient/care-giver support groups, particularly for Parkinson's disease. I also find teaching medical students, residents, and fellows very gratifying. I am prepared to speak about a variety of topics related to Movement Disorders neurology, palliative medicine, and neuro-palliative care.