NANOS HEROES- DR. Steven Hamilton

VOLUNTEER CORNER - NANOS HEROES

Meet NANOS 2024 Merit Award recipient, Dr. Steven Hamilton

Steven Hamilton, MD

Dr. Steven Hamilton

Ophthalmology or Neurology?
 - Neurology                               

What was the best clinical pearl you learned in fellowship?
 -The patient is always right (if you think about it seriously, which implies careful listening skills; it is almost always true to some extent)

What are the top 3 things you’ve learned over the last 5 years in your practice or since leaving fellowship?
1. Try to enjoy what you are experiencing every day as a neuro-ophthalmologist. My mentor, Simmons Lessell at MEEI, thought it was the best job ever because it was such fun being a neuro-ophthalmologist.
2.You are never too young or old to enjoy engaging with your NO colleagues, whether on NANOSnet online or in person at a meeting.
3.Truly engaging with patients is not easy for some of us. It takes practice and patience. We are often the patient’s last resort. Remember that!

Tell us about your involvement with NANOS!
 - I attended my first NANOS meeting as a fellow at MEEI. Shortly after finishing fellowship, I received a very generous gesture by Tom Carlow, a founder of NANOS, who suggested I stay at his home so he could teach me how to perform botulinum toxin therapeutic injections. His mentorship and kindness inspired me to become more involved at NANOS meetings.

What would you say to members who want to be more involved in NANOS?
 - Attend a NANOS meeting and talk to several committee chairs about what their committee’s work is like, then volunteer to serve on a committee. It is a great way to meet other members and develop long-lasting friendships at NANOS.

What do you know at this stage in your career that you wish you knew when you first joined NANOS?
 - Honestly, as a young physician, I was a bit intimidated by the academic reputations of some older NANOS members at meetings, but then learned quickly how friendly and open almost all members at NANOS are. It is easy to meet and get to know other NANOS members from all over the world at NANOS meetings. The poster session is a wonderfully relaxed way to meet others and get to know them.