Dr. Benjamin Hunter is a neuropsychologist who treats medically complex issues including strokes, epilepsy, brain injuries and more.
His mother was a nurse for more than 40 years, and he was always drawn to helping others, so entering the medical field was a natural choice for Dr. Hunter.
“I was always very interested in how the physical mechanisms of the brain influence a person’s behavior,” Dr. Hunter said. “That’s why I was drawn to neuropsychology.”
Neuropsychologists are trained to understand the link between behavior and neurologic function. A psychologist treats mental health issues like depression or anxiety, while a neuropsychologist works with patients with more medically complex issues that have an effect on cognition, such as neurodegenerative disorders, epilepsy, stroke or traumatic brain injuries.
For Dr. Hunter, the most important part of patient care is to recognize each person as an individual.
“These are family members. These are somebody’s loved one,” he said. “If we don’t approach people like individuals, then we are not providing the very best care.”
The best part of his work is providing answers to patients who may have been struggling to understand their health issue.
“Providing some of those answers and a plan patients can follow to get better is deeply fulfilling for me,” Dr. Hunter said.
Dr. Hunter earned his undergraduate degree in behavioral sciences at Utah Valley University. He completed his master’s and doctorate at the Forest Institute for Professional Psychology in Missouri. He finished his internship in neuropsychology at the University of Texas Health Science Center and his residency in neuropsychology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
In his free time, Dr. Hunter enjoys racquetball, pickleball, golf and spending time with his family. He is happily married with five children.