Neurosurgeons are highly skilled physicians that work with the nervous system of the body, particularly the brain. Besides pre-med and medical school, those who want to work in a neurosurgery clinic will also have to train in this specialty for a number of years during their residency. Clinical neurosurgery can also lead to studies in neurology, and possible publication in a journal.

To start a career in neurology or neurosurgery, one must have a college education. A strong pre-med program will help any student develop the knowledge and skills to enter a top-rated medical school. Neurosurgery education and training will include:

1. Extensive knowledge in neurosurgery for spine and brain conditions.

2. Knowledge of general anatomy to understand how the body works.

3. Specific skills that qualify a student to become a doctor or surgeon.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn neurosurgeon information in a pre-med program

Pre-med programs are undergraduate studies that provide a concentration in anatomy and human physiology. These programs can prepare a student to enter medical school with a basic knowledge of health, medicine and patient care. Medical schools then build upon these skills to train students as doctors.

I recommend: Willamette University offers a comprehensive pre-med program that includes all the courses needed to meet the requirements of a student to qualify to take the MCATs. Barry University offers a traditional pre-med major, as well as an accelerated program that can be completed in three years.

Choose a graduate school that is known for its neurosurgery institute

Many medical schools exist in the United States, but many are more than just general medical school programs. Most have concentrations where students of a specialty can learn from some of the top doctors in their field, be that neurosurgery, cancer research, emergency medicine and other specialties.

I recommend: Johns Hopkins University provides a comprehensive residency graduate program for medical students. Students can choose from a variety of specialties, including neurosurgery. Yale's medical school has a long standing neurosurgery school that provides traditional education along with training in the latest medical technology.

Find continuing educational opportunities through a professional neurosurgery group

Even after pre-med, medical school and a residency program, neurosurgeons must participate in continuing education. This is because medical fields are constantly evolving as researchers discover more about the body. Technology is constantly changing medicine, and so ongoing training is required. Professional groups offer classes, conferences and fellowships for continuing education.

I recommend: University of Pittsburgh offers many educational opportunities for neurosurgeons, including conferences, online courses and professional courses. Duke University School of Medicine provides many fellowships for neurosurgeons to learn a new skill or specialize in brain or spinal injuries. The American Board of Neurological Surgery certifies that a neurosurgeon has met the training standards of the profession and is keeping up with continuing medical education in neurosurgery.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to specialize in a particular area of neurosurgery, including research or pediatric neurosurgery, fellowships and postgraduate education may be necessary.

Whether you have your own neurosurgery clinic, you work for a hospital setting or are at the bottom of the ladder as a resident or intern, having neurosurgery resources at your fingertips can be helpful at any stage of your career.

Neurosurgeons are a well educated group of people, but it never hurts to be connected with colleagues and valuable information in the field. Neurosurgery online information can range from subspecialties, to continuing medical education (CME), to conferences and more.

To determine the best neurosurgery resources for you, ask yourself:

1. Are you looking for specific neurosurgery topics to research particular conditions or diseases?

2. Are you looking to branch out and network with other neurosurgery professionals?

3. Are you looking to find neurosurgery CME training?

4. Are you looking to find a job in the neurosurgery field?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use the plethora of neurology / neurosurgery resources available

From clinical neurosurgery to pediatric neurosurgery to neurosurgery spine information and more, find the neurosurgery topic to fit your any need.

I recommend: NEUROSURGERY://ON-CALL is a joint online resource from The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. There you can find information on the various Neurosurgical subspecialties. Visit the Medscape Neurology & Neurosurgery Resource Center, which offers information, resources and CME activities. Visit the Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Neurosurgical Service site. It offers resources for patients, families and more related to neurosurgical diseases. Look at the resources available through the Health Sciences Library in collaboration with the Division of Neurosurgery, UNC-Chapel Hill.

Join an association or society to gain neurosurgeon information

Finding a neurosurgery group can help you network professionally and personally.

I recommend: Consider becoming a part of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Visit their career center or use their online resources. There's also the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, which recently released its SANS Competencies courses. They are a new module of SANS Lifelong Learning that cover the non-clinical core competencies. The pricing is extremely reasonable for the level of practice testing that you receive. Look at joining the Association of Neurosurgical Physician Assistants. You could also consider the Society of Neurological Surgeons, otherwise known as the “Senior Society.”

Find job placement resources for neurosurgeons

Find neurosurgery online job placement firms and opportunities.

I recommend: Use the neuroscience placement specialist services of MedHIRE, LLC. Use PracticeLink to find Physician Neurosurgery jobs by state. Use Onyx M.D. to find neurosurgical jobs. MedSource Consultants is another job resource.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Neurosurgery interns and residents should look for mentors to look up to and network with. Vice versa is true for experienced neurosurgery professionals. They should be willing to take someone new under their wing and be a leader and role model for that person or persons.

There's a common misconception that neurosurgeons treat only disorders within the brain and head. The truth is that neurosurgery deals with the entire nervous system, which extends throughout the body. The nervous system governs higher functions such as movement and speech and more basic functions like breathing and heartbeat.

While the field of neurosurgery is far too complex to define its key terms in just one page, this guide will get you started with definitions of some key tests, brain anatomy and the definition of neurosurgery itself.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery is the surgical discipline dedicated to the repair and treatment of the entire nervous system, including but not limited to the brain.

I recommend: The Indiana University Medical Group defines neurosurgery and gives examples of the conditions that may be treated.

Brainstem

The brainstem, located at the base of the brain, is where most of the cranial nerves originate. The brainstem governs survival functions such as breathing and heartbeat.

I recommend: NeuroLogic Exam details the cranial nerve anatomy in the brainstem and offers downloadable video lessons.

Carotid duplex

The carotid duplex or carotid ultrasound test works uses sound waves to produce an image of the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries supply blood to the brain, head, and neck.

I recommend: Neurosurgery Today defines the carotid duplex procedure and explains its lack of risks and side effects, due in particular to its non-invasive nature.

Cerebral angiography

Cerebral angiography is a diagnostic test used by neurosurgeons to track the flow of blood in the brain. It uses a contrast dye to show narrowing or obstructions of blood flow.

I recommend: The Internet Stroke Center explains how cerebral angiography works.

Brain aneurysm

Also called a cerebral aneurysm or intracranial aneurysm, a brain aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in one of the arteries in the brain. An aneurysm is a very serious condition because if the artery bursts, it may lead to stroke, hemorrhaging or death.

I recommend: The American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology's brain aneurysm resource page defines brain aneurysms and offers links to information about treatments for brain aneurysms.

Autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system helps us to adapt to changes in our environment and regulates functions such as heartbeat, blood vessel size and pressure, and air flow in the lungs. The autonomic nervous system, while branching throughout the entire body, is still considered to be a neurosurgeon's domain since it is part of the body's nerve network.

I recommend: The University of Washington explains the autonomic nervous system with information about its three component parts, the sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric nervous systems.