L. Nelson "Nick" Hopkins joined the faculty of the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 1975 as a clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery. In 1982, he was promoted to clinical associate professor. He earned a BA from Rutgers University in 1965 and an M.D. from Albany Medical College. In 2012, Hopkins was named SUNY Distinguished Professor and in 2019, he received the Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal, the University at Buffalo's highest honor.