Shawna D. Nesbitt, MD, MS

Brief Bio

Shawna D. Nesbitt, MD, MS is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, where she is the Medical Director of the Hypertension Clinic at Parkland Hospital. Dr. Nesbitt earned her medical degree at Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After an internship and residency in internal medicine at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she underwent fellowship training in hypertension in the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Additionally, Dr. Nesbitt earned a master of science in clinical research design and statistical analysis from the University of Michigan, School of Public Health. She is board certified in internal medicine, and she is a Fellow of the American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research and a Fellow of the American Society of Hypertension.  She is a certified Hypertension Specialist.

She is a former President of ISHIB, (International Society of Hypertension in Blacks) and remains a member of the Board of Trustees. She is also a current Board member of the Southwest Affiliate and the National Scientific Advisory Committee of the American Heart Association, and the American Society for Hypertension.  She served as a member of the Clinical Trials Review Grant Study Section for NIH/NHLBI. She is currently a member of the Observational Study Review Board for The Jackson Heart Study sponsored by NIH, NHLBI.  Her research interest is in clinical trials in hypertension and cardiovascular prevention.  She has served as national leader in hypertension clinical trials with a special focus on prehypertension, hypertension in African Americans and healthcare disparities.  She is currently a site principal investigator for the ASPREE clinical trial.  Dr. Nesbitt is an active clinician as well as medical director of the Hypertension Clinic at Parkland Hospital. 

Dr. Nesbitt is as Associate Dean of Student Affairs in the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. She leads the efforts to recruit underrepresented minority students and develop support programs for these students.  She is active in guiding education for the medical school in cultural sensitivity and approaching diverse patients.