Through the Lens: Celebrating the Career of Steve Conlon

When Steve Conlon walked through the doors of Duke Pathology in 1983, he carried more than a camera—he brought a sharp eye, deep curiosity, and a drive to look beyond the lens. Over four decades, his images became essential tools in research, education, diagnosis, and even patient care—producing visuals that advanced understanding and sparked discovery.

“Steve was a huge asset to our department: a superb photographer who elicited incredible detail in his finished photographs, and did everything to the highest standard,” said Associate Professor of Pathology Anne Buckley, MD, PhD. “I will miss his expertise, guidance, and good humor.”

Conlon’s photography career began in the U.S. Army in 1974. After his service, he pursued formal photography studies and worked commercially before arriving at Duke, where Susan Reeves mentored him in medical photography and photomicroscopy. Together, Conlon and Reeves led the lab through the transition from analog to digital—a major undertaking at the time. Throughout it all, they continued producing critical images, from autopsy and surgical specimens to early comparisons with MRI scans. 

In 1994, Conlon began teaching photography to students in Duke’s Pathologists’ Assistant Program—a role he grew to love. “I didn’t have an academic background, but I loved photography,” he said. “Teaching helped me stay ahead of the changes—from film to digital—and I learned alongside the students.” He added, “Many times, I was a page ahead of the students in the manuals, trying to figure out the new technology and software.”

From textbooks to national exhibits, Conlon’s photographs have appeared in Time, medical publications, and countless presentations. “Each image tells a story,” said Senior Vice Chair Rex Bentley, MD. “His photographs bring to life the complexity of disease in a way that is both educational and visually captivating.”

With a level of precision that staff came to rely on, the photographs Conlon produced were used to teach medical students, document rare findings for research, support legal investigations, and enhance presentations that shaped diagnostic standards. “The importance of those images for documentation of diseases and specific evidence cannot be understated,” said Reeves. “They are useful for teaching, legal, and research applications.”

“There is an intangible level of confidence when you step up to the dais knowing you have a professional presentation with textbook quality images that document the diagnostic pathology,” said colleague Professor of Pathology and Residency Program Director Thomas J. Cummings, MD.

That sentiment is echoed by Senior Vice Chair David Howell, MD, PhD, who said, “Much of what I try to convey is through pictures, and Steve is a master at their acquisition, compilation, and exhibition.”

Longtime colleague Professor Victor Roggli, MD, added his perspective: “It is difficult to imagine a successful academic pathology department without his assistance.”

Away from the lens, Conlon is also known for his mentorship, warmth, and deep commitment to service. He has spent more than 35 years volunteering with Scouting America and over a decade mentoring incarcerated fathers through community programs. Conlon is now embracing retirement alongside his wife Debbi, their children and grandchildren, and golden retriever, Tully—splitting time between family visits, traveling, lake days and, of course, a little photography!