Robinson College Directors

Beau Kelly, M.D.

Contact Info:
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation
801 Oxford House
Nashville, TN 37232-4753
Ph: 615-936-3427 / Fx: 615-936-0435

Dr. Kelly an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, and the Surgical Director of the Vanderbilt Pediatric Liver Transplant program. Dr. Kelly joined the Vanderbilt surgical faculty approximately 2 years ago after extensive residency and fellowship training at the University of Cincinnati and the University of California at Los Angeles, respectively.

Beyond the clinical rigors of transplant surgery, he has a focused interest in both research and teaching. His translational research interests concentrate on strategies to safely expand the liver donor pool as well as identify liver donor-recipient factors to optimize post-transplant outcomes. His research efforts have yielded extramural funding, and numerous awards, publications, and invited lectures. He has also received the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award for his strong teaching skills and compassionate, relationship-centered care with students.

He is a devoted father of three wonderful, active children. In his "spare time" he serves in his community as a girls' basketball coach. He is a biathlete, musician, and recovering perfectionist. He is a strong proponent of the ideal that "there is no substitution for excellence", and that "equanimity is best practiced under duress". He is enthusiastic to help shape young physician minds through positive mentoring relationships.

Michael Pilla, MD

Contact Info:
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
3108 Medical Center East
Nashville, TN 37232-8510
Ph: 615-936-1206

Dr. Michael Pilla is Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Pilla was a professional musician until age 30, when he entered college. Following graduation with degrees in both biology and psychology, he then attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating AOA in 1994. He completed his residency in anesthesiology in 1998 at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. After six years in private practice in Santa Fe, NM and Eugene, OR, Dr. Pilla came to Vanderbilt in 2004, where his efforts remain divided between the Divisions of Multi-Specialty Anesthesia and Liver Transplantation Anesthesia. He is Director of Advanced Clinical Training for Resident Education, and is also on the faculty of the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia. In his spare time, he can be found volunteering at the Shade Tree Clinic.

Though Dr. Pilla is quite comfortable in the operating room, he can be found equally at ease heliboarding in British Columbia. He enjoys road biking, portrait photography, and has earned a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do Karate. A prior RCA recording artist who has shared stages with musical greats such as U2, Blondie, Genesis and others, Michael no longer plays guitar professionally but still remains a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, voting yearly for the Grammys. In 2006, he finally fulfilled his dream of attending the Grammys for the first time. He resides in Green Hills with his spouse Vanderbilt's own Dr. Uyen Tran, and their family of four dogs, Maxie, Beau, Pico, and Scooter.

Faculty Affiliate Advisors

• Roy Elam
• Paul Moore
• Joseph Neimat
• C. Lee Parmley
• Paige Smith
• Paul Wise

Student Affiliate Advisors

• Jason Castellanos
• Sam Crosby
• Nina Glass
• Brenessa Lindeman
• Courtney Walkowski