NANOS HEROES- DR. Clare l. Fraser

VOLUNTEER CORNER - NANOS HEROES

Meet NANOS 2024 Merit Award recipient, Dr Clare L. Fraser. 

Clare Fraser, MD

Dr. Clare Fraser

Ophthalmology or Neurology?
 - Ophthalmology                                     

What was the best clinical pearl you learned in fellowship?
 - You have to let the patient finish talking.They are desperately trying to tell you what is wrong, and even if you can't help them, at least they will feel someone has listened all the way through their story which can be therapeutic enough. 

What are the top 3 things you’ve learned over the last 5 years in your practice or since leaving fellowship?
1. Enjoy the camaraderie of your colleagues and have fun with your friends in the profession
2. Be part of the journey with your students and residents - I get more nervous when they speak, and more proud when they succeed than anything I have ever done.
3. The full moon definitely affects the neuro-ophthalmology clinics!!

Tell us about your involvement with NANOS!
 - The NANOS family has always made me feel so welcome, right back from when I was a lonely Aussie student presenting my research at the Copper Mountain meeting. I wanted to be  part of such a fun and friendly society (the NANOS dance floor is definitely the best). For me joining the International Relations Committee was the first step into volunteering, and has led to many more opportunities, all of which have been very rewarding. It is a great opportunity to get to know people better and to contribute. I hope that the new wide-eyed students feel the same welcome that I did!

What would you say to members who want to be more involved in NANOS?
 - Find something that interests you, and just ask how you can help. It never feels like hard work because you are with a great group of like-minded people.

What do you know at this stage in your career that you wish you knew when you first joined NANOS?
 - That you can and should make surgery a part of a really rewarding neuro-ophthalmology career. Also, not to be afraid to talk to everyone, even the most senior members of NANOS have been approachable and helpful every time.