Dr. Heather Jackson is a board-certified family nurse practitioner earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Master of Science in Nursing at Middle Tennessee State University, and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Jackson is a nationally recognized pain clinician practicing in the supportive and palliative oncology clinic of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. She is also an Associate Professor of Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing as well as Vanderbilt School of Medicine. Dr. Jackson has served as an advanced practice leader within Vanderbilt University Medical Center for over a decade across multiple specialties inpatient and outpatient.

Dr. Jackson was the first Interventional Pain NP and team leader for Vanderbilt University Medical Center and optimized this advanced practice role to perform procedures as well as expand access across multiple clinical sites. As a nursing scientist, Dr. Jackson has advanced the use of acupuncture and acupressure for the treatment of pain and opioid dependence in neonatal and adult populations. As a clinical leader, Dr. Jackson has served in the following roles: Tennessee Department of Health Chronic Pain and Buprenorphine Guidelines Committees, Co-Chair of the Pain Specialty Practice Group for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Chair of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia Pain Medicine NP/PA/RN Specialty Interest Group, Board of Directors for Tennessee Pain Society and ONE Tennessee, as well as Tennessee Nurses Association Vice-President.