Allan Hamilton

Allan J. Hamilton (born November 16, 1950) is an American physician and medical consultant to ABC's medical drama Grey’s Anatomy based in Tucson, Arizona. A professor of Neurosurgery at University of Arizona, Dr. Hamilton was elected a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1994. In 1995, Dr. Hamilton was promoted to Chief of Neurosurgery and became the Chairman of the entire Department of Surgery in 1998. He currently holds a tenured professorship in Neurosurgery, as well as additional professorships in the Departments of Psychology, Radiation Oncology, and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His book “The Scalpel and the Soul: Encounters with Surgery, the Supernatural, and the Healing Power of Hope” was released in March 2008. It has been translated into several languages. He is currently at work on a second book on spirituality and horsemanship, specifically on the sexual impulses of mature mares.

For the American psychiatrist, see Allan McLane Hamilton.

Allan Hamilton
Born (1950-11-16) November 16, 1950
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupationneurosurgeon, medical advisor for Grey's Anatomy
Spouse(s)Jane Hamilton
Children
  • Josh Hamilton
  • Luke Hamilton
  • Tessa Hamilton

Background

Hamilton grew up in Queens, New York, in the neighborhood of Kew Gardens, and received his undergraduate degree at Ithaca College. After graduation, Hamilton worked as a janitor at a church and veterinary hospital in Utica, New York before getting a job teaching English at Whitesboro High School outside Utica. Hamilton went on to earn his medical degrees at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed his residency in neurological surgery within the Massachusetts General Hospital. After completing his residency, Hamilton moved his family from Boston to Arizona, where he now resides.

In 1984, Dr. Hamilton joined the US Army and from 1986-1988 worked for Altitude Research Division of the United States Army Research Institute for Environmental Medicine. He led research efforts to evaluate the effect of the shortage of oxygen on brain function when troops must be rapidly deployed to high altitude. Three times, Dr. Hamilton was called to active duty in the Army, including in November 1990, when Dr. Hamilton was called up for the third time as part Operation Desert Storm.

Medical practice

Hamilton joined the faculty at the University of Arizona in the summer of 1990. Dr. Hamilton was elected a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1994. In 1995, Dr. Hamilton was promoted to Chief of Neurosurgery and became the Chairman of the entire Department of Surgery in 1998. He currently holds a tenured professorship in Neurosurgery, as well as additional professorships in the Departments of Psychology, Radiation Oncology, and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. Hamilton has given more than three hundred public speeches and addresses. He has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed articles, a dozen book chapters, and a monograph on chemotherapy polymer delivery systems for brain tumors. Dr. Hamilton has led more than a half dozen clinical research trials on brain tumors and achieved national prominence for his work in developing computer-guided methodology for safely guiding neurosurgical probes to targets deep inside the brain.

Accomplishments

Dr. Hamilton invented the first device capable of using computer guidance systems to deliver very accurate, high intensity beams of radiation to targets outside the brain. He developed the technology precisely enough so as it could be employed for the first time to eliminate tumors around the spinal cord. For his pioneering work, Dr. Hamilton received numerous awards in neurosurgery, including the Bernard Cosman Award for Innovation in Neurosurgery from the American Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. He became the first American to receive the Lars Leksell Award, one of the highest international honors in the field of neurosurgery, bestowed upon him in Berlin in 1995 by the European Society of Neurosurgery. Dr. Hamilton is a past Fellow of the International Albert Schweitzer Foundation for his medical work in Gabon, Africa. His physician peers have selected him as one of the Best Doctors in America from 1995–2008. In 2000, he was chosen as one of the Leading Intellects and Thinkers of the 21st Century. Dr. Hamilton has appeared on television programs including MSNBC, CNN, PBS, and the Discovery Channel and has been featured in national newspapers such as the New York Times, USA Today, and Newsweek magazine.

TV works

For the last two years, Dr. Hamilton has served as medical script consultant for the hit TV series Grey’s Anatomy.

Publications
  • Hamilton AJ: Discovering the Heart of Medicine in an African Jungle, Harvard Med. Alum. Bull. 56:10-12, 1982
  • Hamilton AJ: Who Shall Live and Who Shall Die, Newsweek, March 26, p 15, 1984 (Guest Columnist, "My Turn")
  • Hamilton AJ, Lutz W: Stereotactic Radiosurgery for the Treatment of Brain Tumors, Clinical Research News for Arizona Physicians 2, October 1991

Monographs

Hamilton AJ, Ruppert J, Wilson AL (Eds): Management of the Brain Tumor Patient. Newton PA: Oxford Institute, 1999.

Hamilton AJ: Intracavitary Chemotherapy: A New Role for the Neurosurgeon, New York, NY: HealthCare, Inc, 1999.

Hamilton AJ: Medical Simulations in the Diagnosis and Management of Intracranial Neoplasms, Darien, CT: InterMed Interactive Medical Communications, July 1, 2000.

Friedman H, Hamilton AJ, Lesser G, Olivi A, Rhines L, Ryken T, Stevens G: Management of Patients Receiving Chemotherapeutic Implants for the Treatment of Malignant Gliomas, CME Monograph, Postgraduate Inst. For Medicine, Englewood, CO, September 2001.

Books
  • Hamilton AJ: The Scalpel and the Soul: Encounters with Surgery, the Supernatural, and the Healing Power of Hope, New York: Tarcher/Penguin Books, 2008 (ISBN 978-1-58542-615-7)

Scholarly works
  • Huang S-Y, Bender PR, Groves BM, McCullough RE, McCullough RG, Micco AJ, Manco-Johnson M, Hamilton AJ, Wagner PA, Reeves JT: "Cerebral Blood Flow During Exercise at Sea Level and High Altitude". In: JR Sutton, G Coates, JE Remmers (eds): Hypoxia: The Adaptations, B. C. Decker, Inc., Toronto & Philadelphia, pp. 196–199, 1990
  • Hamilton AJ, Lulu BA, Fosmire H, Stea B, Cassady JR: "Preliminary Clinical Experience with Linear Accelerator-based Spinal Stereotactic Radiosurgery”. In: Bradley WG & Wilkins RH (eds): Yearbook of Neurology and Neurosurgery Chicago, Ill: Mosby-Year Book, Inc., pp 407–408, 1996
  • Hamilton AJ: "Stereotactic Radiosurgery of Spinal Metastases”. In Maciunas RJ (ed): Advanced Techniques in Central Nervous System Metastases, Park Ridge, Illinois, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Publications, pp 255–269, 1998
  • Takacs I, Hamilton AJ: "Extracranial Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Applications for the Spine and Beyond”. In Kondziolka D (ed) Neurosurgery Clinics of North America 10(2): 257-270, 1999
  • Hamilton AJ, Stea B, Lulu BA: "Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Vascular Malformations of the Brain". In Spetzler R, Carter LP: Vascular Neurosurgery, New York, NY: McGraw Hill, Inc., pp. 1073–1087, 1995
  • Hamilton AJ, Weinand ME: "Neurosurgery”. In Jarrell & Calabas (eds): NMS Surgery, Media, PA: Harwal Publishing-Williams & Wilkins, Inc., 495-526, 1996

Manwaring K, Hamilton AJ: "Neurosurgical Endoscopy". In Tindall GT, Cooper PR, and Barrow DL: The Practice of Neurosurgery, Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, Inc., pp. 233–242, 1996

  • Hamilton AJ: "Open and Closed Techniques for Diagnostic Brain Biopsy", In Tindall GT, Cooper PR, and Barrow DL: The Practice of Neurosurgery, Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, Inc., pp. 223–231, 1996
  • Hamilton AJ, Lulu BA: "Stereotactic Principles and Their Clinical Application". In Guthkelch AN & Misulis KE (eds): The Scientific Foundations of Neurology, Boston: Blackwell Science, Inc., pp. 461–485, 1996
  • Hamilton AJ: "Linear Accelerator (LINAC)-Based Stereotactic Spinal Radiosurgery,” In Gildenberg PL and Tasker RR (eds): Textbook of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, McGraw-Hill, pp. 857–869, 1998
  • Rhoton A, Hamilton AJ, Tabor C: "Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia”. In Benzol EC (ed): Spine Surgery: Techniques, Complication Avoidance & Management, New York: Churchill Livingstone, Inc., Vol 2, pp 793–812, 1999.
  • Hamilton AJ, Hadley MN: "Spinal Stereotaxis and Radiosurgery". In Benzel EC (ed): Spine Surgery: Techniques, Complication Avoidance & Management, New York: Churchill Livingstone, Inc, Vol 2, pp 1233–1248, 1999.
  • Hamilton AJ, Way D: "Extracranial Stereotactic Radiosurgery”. In Alexander E and Maciunas RJ (eds): Advanced Neurosurgical Navigation, New York: Theme, Inc., pp 459–467, 1999
  • Hamilton AJ, Weinand ME, Takacs I: "Neurosurgery” in Jarrell, Carabasi & Radomski (eds): NMS Surgery, Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc., pp. 529–560, 2000
  • Hamilton AJ: “Deus Ex Machina: Emerging Medical Technologies and Their Impact on Medical Errors and Litigation,” Defense Research Institute: Medical Liability and Health Care Law, Chicago, Illinois” DRI, pp. 91–101, 2007
  • Hamilton AJ, Preface, In Beverley Kane: The Manual of Medicine and Horsemanship, Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2007, pp. xiii-xvi

Refereed journal articles
  • Bergland RM, Blume H, Hamilton AJ, Monica P, Wright R, Paterson R: ACTH may be transported directly from the pituitary to the vulva. Science 217: 541-543, 1980
  • Jalife J, Hamilton AJ, Moe GK: Desensitization of the cholinergic receptor at the sinoatrial cell of the kitten. Amer. J. Physiol. 238:439-448, 1980
  • Jalife J, Hamilton AJ, Lamanna VR, Moe GK: Effects of current flow on pacemaker activity of the isolated kitten sinoatrial node. Amer. J. Physiol. 238:307-316, 1980
  • Carr DB, Bergland RM, Hamilton AJ, Blume H, Kasting N, Arnold M, Martin JB, Rosenblatt M: Endotoxin-stimulated opiopeptide secretion: two secretory pools and feedback control in vivo. Science 217:845-848, 1982
  • Friedman EW, Hamilton AJ: Polytetrafluoroethylene grafts in peripheral venous circulation of rabbits. Amer. J. Surg. 146:355-359, 1983
  • Hamilton AJ, Black PM, Carr DB: Contrasting actions of naloxone in experimental spinal cord and cerebral ischemia: a review. Neurosurgery 17: 845-849, 1985
  • Carr DB, Jones KJ, Bergland RB, Hamilton AJ, Kasting NW, Fisher JE, Martin JB: Causal links between plasma and CSF endorphin levels in stress: vector-ARMA analysis. Peptides 6 (Suppl I):5-9, 1985
  • Hamilton AJ, Carr DB, LaRovere JM, Black PM: Endotoxic shock elicits greater endorphin release than hemorrhage. Circ. Shock 19:47-54, 1986
  • Hamilton AJ, Black PM, Madsen J, Carr DB: Neuropeptide investigations with an ovine surgical model. Neurosurgery 18:748-755, 1986
  • Hamilton AJ, Cymerman A, Black PM: High altitude cerebral edema. Neurosurgery 19:841-849, 1986
  • Hamilton AJ, Trad LA, Cymerman A: Alterations in central nervous system function in soldiers at high altitude. Proc. of 1988 US Army Science Conference, West Point, NY, 1989
  • Bender PR, McCullough RE, McCullough RG, Huang SY, Wagner PD, Cymerman A, Hamilton AJ, Reeves JT: Increased exercise SaO2 independent of ventilatory acclimatization at 4300m. J. Appl. Physiol. 66:2733-2738, 1989
  • Bender PR, Groves BM, McCullough RE, McCullough RG, Huang SY, Hamilton AJ, Wagner PD, Cymerman A, Reeves JT: Oxygen transport to exercising leg in chronic hypoxia. J. Appl. Physiol. 65:2592-2597, 1989
  • Kraemer WJ, Hamilton AJ, Gordon SE, Trad LA, Reeves JT, Zahn DW, Cymerman A: Plasma responses of beta-endorphin to acute hypobaria and high intensity exercise in man. Aviat. Space & Envir. Med. 62:754-758, 1991
  • Hamilton AJ, Trad LA, Cymerman A: Alterations in human upper extremity motor function during acute exposure to simulated altitude. Aviat. Space & Envir. Med. 62:759-764, 1991
  • Louis DN, Hamilton AJ, Sobel RA, Ojemann RG: Pseudopsammomatous meningioma with elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) -- a true secretory meningioma. J. Neurosurg. 74:129-132, 1991
  • Meakem TJ, Yoshino MT, Hamilton AJ, Carter LP: MRI and CT demonstration of an anterior cervical enterogenous cyst: case report. Am. J. Radiology 159:904, 1992
  • Frim DM, Barker FG, Poletti CE, Hamilton AJ: Post-operative low-dose heparin decreases thromboembolic complications in neurosurgical patients. Neurosurgery 30:830-833, 1992
  • Hamilton AJ: Intracerebral metastatic tumors. Neurosurgical Consultations 3 (2):1-8, 1992
  • Hamilton AJ, Stea B, Lulu B, Shetter A: Interstitial irradiation and hyperthermia of brain tumors: some lessons learned, in Gerner E (Ed.), Hyperthermic Oncology 1992: Proceedings of the 6th International Congress on Hyperthermic Oncology, Tucson: Board of Regents, The University of Arizona Press, p 397
  • Stea B, Kittleson J, Cassady JR, Hamilton AJ, Guthkelch N, Lulu B, Obbens E, Rossman K, Shapiro W, Shetter A, Cetas T: Treatment of malignant gliomas with interstitial irradiation and hyperthermia. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 24:657-667, 1992
  • Bowersock TL, Woodyard L, Hamilton AJ, DeFord JA: Inhibition of Staphylococci by vancomycin absorbed on triiodecylmethyl ammonium chloride-coated intravenous catheter. Journal of Controlled Release 31: 237-243, 1994
  • Stea B, Rossman K, Kittleson J, Shetter A, Hamilton AJ, Cassady JR: Interstitial irradiation versus thermoradiotherapy for supratentorial malignant gliomas: a comparative survival analysis. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 30:591-600, 1994
  • Stea B, Kittleson J, Lulu BA, Rossman K, Shetter A, Hamilton AJ: Treatment of high grade gliomas with stereotactic interstitial irradiation with and without hyperthermia. Acta Neurochir. 62:47-54, 1994
  • Hamilton AJ, Lulu BA, Stea B, Cassady JR: A technique employing silastic anchoring sheets for securing multiple percutaneous catheters for stereotactic interstitial brachytherapy for intracranial tumors. Endocurietherapy/Hyperthermia Oncology 10:157-160, 1994
  • Hamilton AJ, Lulu BA, Stea B, Cheng CW, Cassady JR: The use of gold foil wrapping for the treatment of the spinal cord for recurrent tumor therapy. Int. J. Rad. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 32:507-511, 1995
  • Hamilton AJ, Lulu BA: Accuracy of a prototype device for LINAC-based extracranial stereotactic radiosurgery. Acta Neurochir. 63:40-43, 1995
  • Hamilton AJ, Lulu BA, Fosmire H, Stea B, Cassady JR: Preliminary experience with LINAC-based spinal stereotactic radiosurgery. Neurosurgery 36:311-319, 1995
  • Gannett D, Stea B, Lulu BA, Adair T, Verdi C, Hamilton AJ: Stereotactic radiosurgery as an adjunct to surgery and external beam radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with malignant gliomas. Int. J. Rad. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 33: 461-468, 1995
  • Hamilton AJ: Rodeo Sports Related Injuries. J. Emer. Medical Services 24: 24-30, 1995
  • Sioutos P, Carter LP, Orozco J, Weinand ME, Hamilton AJ, Williams FC: Continuous regional cerebral cortical blood flow monitoring in head injured patients. Neurosurgery 36:943-950, 1995
  • Sioutos P, Hamilton AJ, Narotam PK, Weinand ME: Unusual early recurrence of a cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma following complete surgical resection. Case report and review of the literature. J. Neuro-Onc 30:47-54, 1996
  • Sioutos P, Carter LP, Weinand ME, Hamilton AJ, Nees J, Orozco J: Intraoperative measurement of peritumoral regional cortical cerebral blood flow. Oncology Reports 3:593-596, 1996
  • Hamilton AJ, Lulu BA, Fosmire H, Gossett L: LINAC-Based Spinal Stereotactic Radiosurgery. Stereotactic Functional Neurosurgery 66:1-9, 1996
  • Hamilton AJ, Orozco J, Narotam P, Bowersock T: Efficacy of Vancomycin/Tri-iododecyclemethyl Ammonium Chloride-coated Ventriculostomy Catheters in Reducing Infection. Neurosurgery 40:1043-1049, 1997
  • Gannett DE, Hill D, Hamilton AJ, Stea D: Paclitaxel as a Radiosensitizer Combined with Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Recurrent Medulloblastoma. Am. J. Clinical Oncology 20:233-236, 1997
  • Woo C, Stea B, Lulu B, Hamilton AJ, Cassady JR: The Use of Stereotactic Radiosurgical Boost in the Treatment of Medulloblastomas. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 37(4):761-4, 1997
  • Hamilton AJ: Brief Commentary: On Radiosurgery for Tumors in the Body: Clinical Experience Using a New Method. J. Radiosurgery 1:75,1998
  • Fritsch MJ, Leber MJ, Gossett L, Lulu BA, Hamilton AJ: Stereotactic Biopsy of Intracranial Brain Lesions. High Diagnostic Yield Without Increased Complications: 65 Consecutive Biopsies with Early Postoperative CT Scans. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 71(1):36-42, 1998
  • Takacs I, Hamilton AJ: Extracranial Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Applications for the Spine and Beyond. Neurosurg Clin N Am 10(2):257-70, 1999
  • Takacs I, Kishan A, Deogaonkar M, Way D, Ogden J, Martin J, Hamilton AJ: Respiration induced target drift in spinal stereotactic radiosurgery: evaluation of skeletal fixation in a porcine model. Stereotactic Functional Neurosurgery 73(1-4)70, 1999
  • Takacs II, Hamilton AJ, Lulu B, Fosmire H, Johnson P, Stea B, Saparato S: Frame-based Stereotactic Spinal Radiosurgery: Experience from the first 19 patients treated. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 73(1-4):69, 1999
  • Reyna V, Hamilton AJ: The Importance of Memory in Informed Consent for Surgical Risk. Medical Decision Making 21(2):73-76, April–June 2001
  • Buckley M & Hamilton AJ: “What Medical Students Learn from Horses in Improving Doctor-Patient Communication, J. Alt & Compl. Ther. 8: 102-107, 2002
  • Zabramski J, Whiting D, Darouiche R, Horner T, Olson J, Robertson C and Hamilton AJ: Efficacy of Antimicrobial-Impregnated External Ventricular Drain Catheters: a Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial. J Neurosurg 98:725-730, 2003
  • Maresh CM, Kraemer WJ, Judelson DA, VanHeest JL, Trad L, Goetz KL, Cymerman A, Hamilton AJ: The Effects of High Altitude and Water Deprivation on AVP Release in Man. Submitted, Journal of Applied Physiology, 2003
  • Griffiths RI, Riddle V, Sachs E, Cook F, Andrews D, Herbert RJ, Hamilton AJ: Cost-Effectiveness of Local Chemotherapy with Biodegradable Carmustine Implants (Gliadel) in Patients with Malignant Glioma at Primary Diagnosis. Submitted, American J Health-System Pharmacy, 2003
  • Hamilton AJ, Hamilton, JF: “Horses Teach Bedside Manners, Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Assoc. Newsletter, 6 (Fall): p. 13-18, 2005
  • Feng C, Haniffa H, Rozenblit J, Hamilton A, Salkini M: Surgical Training and Performance Assessment Using a Motion Tracking System, Proc. Int. Med. Modeling Multiconference, 2006:647-652
  • Chiocca A, Smith K, Rosenfeld S, Lillehei, K, Hamilton A, DeMasters B, Judy K, Kirn D: ”A Phase I, Dose-Escalation, Multi-Institutional Trial of Ad. hIFN-β Neoadjuvant Stereotactic Intratumoral Injection Followed by Adjuvant Peritumoral Injection After Surgical Resection of Recurrent Adult Malignant Glioma: Safety and Correlative Molecular Results” (In Press)
  • Haniffa H, Rozenblit J, Peng J, Hamilton A, Salkini M: “Motion Planning System for Minimally Invasive Surgery” Proceedings of the IEEE. International Conference and Workshops on the Engineering of Computer-Based Systems. 2007. p1-2
  • Feng C, Rozenblit J, Hamilton A: “A Hybrid View in a Laparoscopic Surgery Training System” Proceedings of the IEEE. International Conference and Workshops on the Engineering of Computer-Based Systems. 2007. p1-7
  • Hamilton, AJ: “Healing Prayers That Work,” Spirituality & Health, March–April 2008, p48-75.

Other scholarly contributions
  • Hamilton AJ: Significantly increased sway as measured with a Costlier force platform at simulated altitudes (letter). Aviat. Space & Envir. Med. 59:996, 1988
  • Hamilton AJ: The endoscopic stylet: technical notes (letter to the editor). Neurosurgery 36: 435-436, 1995
  • Hamilton AJ: Three Dimensional Stereotactic Volumetric Resection and Stereotactic Craniotomy, Amer. Assoc. Of Neurological Surgeons Syllabus for Hands-On Workshop, pp1–20, New Orleans, LA, November 17–18, 1995
  • Hamilton AJ: Three Dimensional Stereotactic Volumetric Resection and Stereotactic Craniotomy, Amer. Assoc. Of Neurological Surgeons Revised Syllabus for Hands-On Workshop, pp 1–20, San Francisco, CA, November 13–16, 1997
  • Hamilton AJ: Rationale, Design, and Current Status of a Trial Using Gliadel in Up-Front Management of Malignant Gliomas, Advances in Glioma Therapy1(1):5-8, April 2000.
  • Hamilton AJ: Soul and the Scalpel, Personal Excellence-The Magazine of Life Leadership, September 2008, p 1-2.
gollark: The medical profession™ has to swap out terms for insult-able characteristics periodically because people use them as insults.
gollark: The magic of the euphemism treadmill.
gollark: Inevitably.
gollark: * purely cryoapiaristic
gollark: It made it into my daily notes page, actually.

References
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