Kimystian Harrison, MD, MSCR, grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, where she received most of her formal education. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tougaloo College, followed by a Master of Science degree from Mississippi College. She then obtained her medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. After medical school, Harrison relocated to St. Louis to complete her neurology residency at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where she served as an administrative chief resident during her last year of residency.
Harrison then moved to Baltimore, Maryland, to complete a clinical and research fellowship in Neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins, which was supported by funding from the prestigious Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowship Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. During her fellowship, she was actively involved in clinical research, trials, and clinical care of people with multiple sclerosis and other neuro-immunologic conditions. Beyond clinical and research activities, Harrison took on an additional medical education role through the Johns Hopkins Osler Housestaff Preceptorship program, in which she helped to coordinate the outpatient neurology clerkship experience for medical students. Additionally, outside of her fellowship, she participated in the American Academy of Neurology’s TRANSCENDS program, through which she completed rigorous coursework and earned a Master of Clinical Research degree from the Medical University of South Carolina.
After completing fellowship, Harrison returned to Washington University in St. Louis and joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in Neurology within the Multiple Sclerosis section. Harrison’s research interests include investigations of racial and health disparities, social determinants of health, biomarkers, and outcomes in multiple sclerosis and related disorders. She is committed to advancing health equity for neuroimmunology patients and enhancing the diversity in clinical research and trials, which she believes are essential for more inclusive and effective treatment strategies. Harrison received funding through the Department of Defense’s Early Investigator Research Award to study the relationships between race, social factors, stress, and outcomes for people with multiple sclerosis.
Outside of work, she enjoys going to concerts, watching NFL football games, trying different restaurants and dessert shops, participating in Orangetheory classes, and spending time with her large extended family.