Pain jobs as a neurologist

[Nonphysiologic]

I am a neurology resident moving on to complete an ACGME anesthesiology-pain fellowship.

So I was talking to a recruiter the other day just to kind of see what sorts of opportunities would await me when I graduate fellowship. She told me there really aren't much opportunities for a NEUROLOGY trained pain doc and that I wouldn't be much better off compensation/lifestyle wise than if I did just general neuro. She said most places that would consider hiring me would want me to also to be proficient at EMG/NCS which truthfully I'm not and most neurology residents aren't unless they complete fellowship.


Any thought on the validity of this claim?

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[BobBarker]

I think she is too doom and gloom. You will be fine.

 

[lobelsteve]

I am a neurology resident moving on to complete an ACGME anesthesiology-pain fellowship.

So I was talking to a recruiter the other day just to kind of see what sorts of opportunities would await me when I graduate fellowship. She told me there really aren't much opportunities for a NEUROLOGY trained pain doc and that I wouldn't be much better off compensation/lifestyle wise than if I did just general neuro. She said most places that would consider hiring me would want me to also to be proficient at EMG/NCS which truthfully I'm not and most neurology residents aren't unless they complete fellowship.


Any thought on the validity of this claim?

No one wants EMG/NCV. Waste of time from a financial point of view.
If you can do the procedures, prescribe the meds judiciously, and make a difference in the community while maintaining productivity for an employer you are good as gold.

Stop talking to recruiters. Their job is to sell you to lowest bidder and make money off of you.

 

[drusso]

No one wants EMG/NCV. Waste of time from a financial point of view.

Doesn't make money, but still good for providing a service to referring docs.

 

[clubdeac]

She doesn't know what she's talking about. No neurologists will want you to do EMG/NCS. They will want you to do pain procedures, lots of them so they can make a killing off of you

 

[lobelsteve]

Doesn't make money, but still good for providing a service to referring docs.

When done properly (he said he is a Neuro)....
Oops, did I say that out loud?

 

[Taus]

Unless it's an anesthesia group looking for you to take OR call and/or do acute pain or Ortho who also wants sports/non-op peripheral msk work and/or EMGs (ie PMR) it shouldn't make a damn difference.

You'll be looking for jobs as a pain specialist, not a neurologist who also does pain (unless you specifically want the former)

 

[Ducttape]

a neurologist that is pain certified has a well established niche in a large NS group practice, or a hospital/University based NS practice, and became their EMG/NCV/pain procedure guru.

 

[Disciple]

I am a neurology resident moving on to complete an ACGME anesthesiology-pain fellowship.

So I was talking to a recruiter the other day just to kind of see what sorts of opportunities would await me when I graduate fellowship. She told me there really aren't much opportunities for a NEUROLOGY trained pain doc and that I wouldn't be much better off compensation/lifestyle wise than if I did just general neuro. She said most places that would consider hiring me would want me to also to be proficient at EMG/NCS which truthfully I'm not and most neurology residents aren't unless they complete fellowship.

Any thought on the validity of this claim?

Depends what job you're applying for. For the standard IPM job, in a nut-shell, you'll be expected to manage pain medications and do procedures.

There are some jobs which may be looking for something Neurology specific, e.g. EMGs, expertise in headache/facial pain, etc., but these will comprise a small percentage of opportunities that you will run across.

The bulk of jobs you apply for will most likely be standard IPM jobs.