Dr. Samuel Forrester Hunter, MD

This man abandoned many of his patients in late 2022, only for many of them to find out he had misdiagnosed them and then treated them for MS. If you are a patient of this man and have an MS diagnosis, please seek a second opinion. Please. Your health may depend on it.

in 2020, after my first visit, I was told I had PPMS. I asked, several times, how he diagnosed me when so many hadnt found MS, the reply was basically because I said so. I never saw the MRI's or any proof but I went along with him because this has been going on for years and I finally got a diagnosis. Even if it was a bad one. So I went thru 5 days of steroid infusions, being prescribed drugs that I was unable to tolerate, and 2 infusions of a very high dollar, side effect riddled drug...doubts and questions kept popping up. I went to another neurologist who did tons of blood work, MRI's..I was then told I didnt have MS. I was told that it appeared to be a muscular problem, as my legs (hips) and arms appear to be very weak.I have been referred to a neuromuscular doctor. We'll see. I only wish I had read more on Dr. Hunter before I put my faith (and body) in him.

I was referred to Hunter by another Doctor, who could only go so far with testing. Initially, MS was suspected by the first doc. When I got to Hunter, he didn't consider any other potential diagnosis and continued on with a possible MS diagnosis (and actually verbally said that I had "the worst form - PPMS"), and that it was on my brainstem. While examining me, I had several questions to which he never looked at me or answered. In the first appnt, he also prescribed medication and ordered a brain stem MRI for a future date to confirm his thought of PPMS. Two weeks later after he said that I had the worst form of PPMS and the brainstem MRI was on the books, the office staff called to tell me that he needed to push the brainstem MRI (a month later down the road) due to a conflicting schedule that just appeared on the calendar all of a sudden. I switched to another facility for care (an excellent one), and they reviewed all of the prior tests objectively and informed me that Hunter had… marked my Evoked Potentials Test abnormal, when in fact it was not. In addition to that, the new care facility were very thorough with MRI testing, nerve/muscle tests, DATscan, etc... and they completely ruled out MS as a diagnosis. While my accurate diagnosis is actually EOPD, Hunter was on his way to completely misdiagnosing me. While Hunter is knowledgable (and may have extreme cred. when it comes to research in his field), he may have been better when he was building his company initially. I wouldn't recommend this doctor, as I don't feel like he is necessarily current any longer, and he doesn't have great bedside manner with patients. In addition to that, a misdiagnoses for MS is a big deal.

Dr. Hunter is a great Neurologist. He is very thorough and takes time explaining things. His APRN’s and medical staff are great and friendly. Your wait time may be longer than expected, but that is because if doesn’t rush through your intake. He’s asking questions, ordering tests, looking over test results, and old notes. He will find answers.

When Dr Hunter gets flustered, (which from my observations seems to happen on nearly a daily basis) he lashes out on not only his employers, even his sweet wife who works in the office, and his absolute wonderful nurse practitioners! but today it was me who caught his wrath. I believe he has a huge self esteem and is not quick to see any issues with his faults but will harshly and verbally attack those in his practice for the tiniest thing. I was so turned off by this about him—even on the first appointment. Today I showed up at the office with a smile on my face and literally left the office bawling!!! He completely lashed out on me for absolutely no reason at all. He belittled me, left me feeling completely unheard, and wondering why I even wasted the time, effort, money, or gas to come see him today. I was beside myself with his SUPER UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR!!! I am paying 100% out-of-pocket...good money to this doctor who walked in the exam room extremely agitated, then… lashed out on me. He spent less than 5 mins with me, and continually cut me off never hearing one single concern of mine. Before leaving I prayed, then calmly confronted him with the problem I had with his poor behavior and the poor treatment he put me through hoping to gain some understanding as we are all human beings and all make mistakes. But boy was I wrong, he blew up on me again-and again didn’t let me finish, then told me to find another doctor. OMGOODNESS WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!? Please don’t forget that I pay good money hard earned money coving 109% of my bill for him to care for me because I had heard he was the best at what he does. I believe he is on the brinks of losing his entire practice because of his hot headed, hot mouthed, verbally abusive, and way overly self absorbed and egocentric attitude that he he showers onto all who encounter him professionally or from a patient standpoint.

The first MD that took time to listen to me, went over all testing from past to present, and explained things to me. My first consult, I was with APRN Faith & Dr. Hunter for two hours. My health is complicated, and they didn't rush me in & out. My calls have always been promptly returned. I feel very blessed & thankful to be under his care.

Dr.Hunter saved my life.He found an MS drug that at the time was not on the US market & started treating me with it,as I was about to succumb from MS complications.His care has made it possible for me to get back on my feet and enjoy a reasonable of life.Brilliant and caring physician

I saw Dr. Hunter for maybe 4 years. I was diagnosed years before I saw him. I knew something was wrong with his practice considering it would take forever to get in for an appointment; he would order unnecessary testing; he would treat me with Solumedrol when I felt it was unnecessary; his nurse would literally stab me with hat pins until I bled; and, no matter what, I would leave his office depressed and in tears every single time! I thought about reporting him, but did not know exactly how to go about it. I believe his frequently-prescribed steroid treatments caused my bones to be seriously weakened. Like others have said, do not go to this “doctor!”

Dr. Hunter diagnosed me with MS 15 years ago and treated me for a year. I finally got a second opinion and told I didn't have MS. I was so confused that I then went to the Vanderbilt MS clinic and saw two different neurologists and both told me I didn't have MS. I immediately stopped seeing Dr. Hunter and later met another former patient of his who shared the same experience. One of the Vanderbilt doctors told me Dr. Hunter diagnoses patients as having MS too quickly. Please get a second opinion or third of fourth. Fifteen years later and I still do not have MS.

He listens to his patients and is very thorough in the exam. He cares for their well being and wants the best for them