Med students apply
 •'horse whispering'
   October 26, 2002, Arizona Daily Star
 Learning from a 'friendly game'
    April 17, 2002, Arizona Daily Wildcat
 Horse sense for docs
   December, 2001, Tucson Citizen

Clinical Specialties
The recipient of several international awards for his groundbreaking work in the area of minimally invasive stereotactic neurosurgery of the spine, Dr. Hamilton treated the first spinal radiosurgery patient in the world. Among many innovations, he developed techniques for shielding the spinal cord from excessive radiation during stereotactic radiosurgery. He also invented a device for using laser guidance systems to aim beams of radiation at spinal cord tumors without damaging the spinal cord.

Board Certifications
American Board of Neurological Surgery

Research
My research interests surround the areas of emerging technologies in surgery.

In the past six years, I have been involved in actively developing new polymers for in situ chemotherapy delivery in malignant brain tumors and looking at the further development of polymers that can carry multiple chemotherapeutic agents into the brain. I have looked at the use of viral vectors as well.

My focus is on developing cutting-edge technology in the area of stereotactic and computer guidance for neurosurgery and I am now working on the broader area of computer guidance for all the subspecialties in surgery.

I continue to research the area of computer-assisted virtual environments and robotics for the training of residents as well as the develpment of new technologies in surgery that permit minimally invasive approaches. I am interested in evaluating novel techniques in the educaiton of residents and medical students, including computer simulations, robotics and animatronics to enhance the acquisition of interpersonal skills and bedside manners. Most recently I have begun to evaluate the role of medical informatics and information networking technology and the impact of reducing surgical complications and morbidity.

I am leading an NIH funded study evaluating the effect fo healing energy and its effect on wound healing as an alternative therapy.

Selected Presentations

• Ten Principles of Cancer Survival
• Intracavitary BCNU--Where Do We Stand Now in 2003?

Selected Publications

• 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. Journal of Applied Physiology, 2004 (in press).
• Griffiths RI, Riddle V, Sachs E, Cook F, Andrews D, Herbert RJ, Hamilton AJ: Cost-Effectiveness of Local Chemotherapy with Biodegradable Carmustine Implants in Patients with Malignant Glioma at Primary Diagnosis. American J Health-System Pharmacy, 2004 (in press).
• 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.
• Reyna V, Hamilton AJ: The Importance of Memory in Informed Consent for Surgical Risk. Medical Decision Making 21(2): 73-76m April-June 2001.
• Hamilton AJ, Weinand ME, Takacs I: "Neurosurgery" in Jarrell & Carabasi & Radomski (eds): NMS Surgery, Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc., pp. 529-560, 2000.
• 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.
• 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.
• Hamilton AJ: Brief Commentary: On Radiosurgery for Tumors in the Body: Clinical Experience Using a New Method. "J Radiosurgery 1: 75,1998.