Lifestyle: gen neuro vs. movement disorders

[wanderlust1]

Can anyone offer insight into the lifestyle of a movement disorders specialist (e.g. what are the hours like, is there call, weekends, etc.)? Are these mainly academic positions or is there also a decent private practice market out there? Is this pretty much a 100% outpatient specialty? Do people typically see 100% movement disorders or do they also have to see a % of gen neuro patients as well (perhaps due to a more limited patient base)?

I'm guessing lifestyle-wise it would be pretty cush, but I really have no idea. I also imagine it probably reimburses less than some other areas of neuro due to lack of EMG/EEG, but I think that would be a pretty fair trade for a potentially better lifestyle (and one of the most interesting areas of neuro in my opinion).

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[neurologist]

Unless you are in a huge academic center with a zillion neurologists (think Mayo, MGH, etc), it is highly, highly unlikely that you will be doing 100% movement disorder work. Anywhere smaller than that and you will have some general neurology and call responsibilities. How much increases exponentially depending on how far down the pyramid of academic centers you slide.

Yeah, I guess the lifestyle of a 100% movement d/o specialist could be pretty nice, if you can find it . . .

 

[Acherona]

Agree with above. Pure movement is cushy, but you would need to be in academics which has other demands. If you're in a practice you'd likely have to share call even if you see mostly movement.

 

[Javad]

I work in an academic center in the movement disorders section, it is not cushy at all. You must really like the field otherwise the compensation is much lower than general neurology.