05 Dec 2024 The Gift of the Magie
By KD Reep
Steve Magie, MD, doesn’t let anything slow him down. An ophthalmologist and state legislator from Arkansas District 56, Dr. Magie is a husband, father, grandfather, Arkansas delegate to the American Medical Association and chair of the legislative committee for the Arkansas Medical Society. He is also secretary for the Faulkner County Medical Society and served on the Arkansas General Assembly public health, agricultural and economic development, budget and rules committees. And he is retiring as the medical director and one of the main partners of MSC Eye Associates in Conway.
“I’ve been married 52 years, and we have 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren,” Rep. Magie said. “I’m proud of what my wife, Becky, and I built together.”
Dr. Magie’s journey began with his father as a mentor. “I’ve always had an interest in science, math and agriculture,” he said. “He wanted me to pursue medicine, but when I entered college, I wasn’t certain at that time. Turns out, I loved chemistry, and I was accepted to UAMS.”
He narrowed down his field of study to ear, nose and throat, ophthalmology and urology. Since 1985, Rep. Magie has applied himself to ophthalmology, explaining that what drove him to choose this specialty was understanding diabetic eye disease.
“My grandfather was blind from diabetic retinopathy when I was a child,” he said. “After my eye residency, I was accepted into a postgraduate fellowship in New Orleans, where I obtained additional training focusing on diabetic eye disease, age-related macular degeneration and retinal disease. Becky and I returned to Conway to raise our children and make our lives. Our medical practice grew, and we expanded across the state. In addition to my MSC partners Drs. Smith and Charton, I have another group practice, Arkansas Retina.”
Arkansas Retina has full-time offices in Little Rock, Fort Smith and Conway. “I have been blessed by having medical partners who are not only excellent surgeons and physicians but are also the finest men and women I know,” Magie said. “They are all dedicated to serving, to their families and to practicing medicine at the highest levels. I will be leaving our patients with the doctors I trust to treat myself or any member of my family. I am confident my partners will continue to provide patients the ultimate in patient-focused, excellent health care.”
During his four decades as an ophthalmologist, Rep. Magie has seen vast advances in medical and surgical care related to eye treatments. “It truly amazes me the degree to which care has changed,” he said. “Medical and surgical treatments for conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration that weren’t available or even heard of in 1985 are now commonplace in our management. Now, we have advanced medical and surgical options that prevent blindness. It’s made a world of difference for our patients. Shots in the eye in the office, which were unheard of in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, are now a big part of our daily practice. Eye surgeries that years ago took hours, often with less-than-optimal results, now take 30-60 minutes, and the results are excellent. Eye conditions for which there was, basically, no treatment are now being treated.”
“Dr. Magie always prioritizes the care of patients,” Drs. Justin Charton and Melanie Smith said in a statement. “He is always willing to see a patient regardless of the time of day or associated complexities. We greatly respect his steadfast dedication to patient care through his decades of practicing medicine.”
What he will miss most about his practice is being at the front end of learning and delivering new, innovative healthcare to patients.
“I know my medical partners will continue to do just that,” Rep. Magie said. “But I’m really not leaving it entirely. Many years ago, I began to realize how important it is to be involved with our community, especially at the state level. It is an honor to serve as a state representative. The people of District 56 have entrusted me to represent them, and I will do my very best to work for all the people and continue to earn that trust.”
His goals as a legislator are to work diligently to advocate for everyone. “Because sooner or later, we will all access health care. I want to ensure all Arkansans have access to excellent quality, affordable health care from the doctor they choose. I want patients to continue to learn about their health issues. People need to be armed with the knowledge to make good decisions. Arkansas needs continued economic and educational improvements. I am going to be part of the solutions for all Arkansans.”
