Joyce Hairston MD, MS, completed both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University in 1999 on full scholarship. Her research focused on brain and endocrine mechanisms controlling reproduction and social behaviors, resulting in several publications in the field.

After Johns Hopkins, Joyce worked as a laboratory assistant at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke under Dr. Robert Burke. She then pursued her medical degree at Harvard Medical School, continuing her research on the neuro-regulatory mechanisms of diet-induced obesity. 

Upon graduation, Joyce completed her medical internship at California Pacific Medical Center (the original Stanford Hospital) and then her anesthesia residency at Stanford University Medical Center. After completing her residency, she worked as an attending instructor in anesthesia and later finished her Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship and Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship.

Currently, Joyce works at Fairfax INOVA and enjoys teaching medical students and residents. She has received several awards for her contributions, including the Multiculturalism Award from Harvard Medical School, the Compassionate Physician Award from the Medical Society of Virginia, and the Teaching Award in Anesthesia from the University of Virginia.