Dr. Shashidhara Nanjundaswamy was always very interested in science as a child, so it’s not surprising that he decided to become a doctor. “I like to solve problems,” he explains. “In medicine, you really get to use your analytical skills every day, so I think in many ways being a neurologist is the perfect job for me.”

According to Dr. Nanjundaswamy, making the right diagnosis is the key challenge of being a neurologist. “If you make a good diagnosis you are more than halfway there. That’s why taking a history of the patient is so important. No investigation, no tests, no body scans – nothing in the world can equal a history-taking during the exam…you just can’t do a good diagnosis without it.”

A member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honors society, Dr. Nanjundaswamy is board-certified in neurology. He is also subspecialty certified in neuromuscular disorders and vascular neurology. He helps patients deal with all kinds of neuromuscular disorders such as neuropathies, myasthenia gravis, as well as stroke, TIA, vascular malformations, and other problems related to the vascular system of the head and neck. He is also fellowship-trained in neurology of aging and dementia, and helps many patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

In his practice, Dr. Nanjundaswamy is very encouraged by the new drugs and technologies that are helping to make a difference for his patients. “It used to be that Parkinson’s disease was difficult to treat, but now, in many instances, we have deep brain stimulation, a treatment which allows people who could not even walk or stand up to live a pretty normal life…it’s really remarkable when you see it.”

For Dr. Nanjundaswamy, the part of his job he enjoys the most is being able to help people. “For any given patient who walks in the door, I know I can help them. That’s the great thing about coming to work – knowing that I can really make a difference for my patients.”

When he is not busy treating patients, Dr. Nanjundaswamy enjoys spending time with his wife and children.