Want to be a neurologist, but scared I won't have a life outside of work

[jcvhamilton97]

I am about to be a college freshman and for as long as I can remember I've wanted to be a neurologist. My mom has a brain injury and I want to help people just like her. I can't really imagine doing anything else, but lately I've been wondering... I know doctors work A LOT. But I still want to have a big focus on my future family because family has always been my main priority, and I don't want to spend every waking hour at work. I don't want to be the parent who is always working and never has time for their kids. Is this possible? How much do neurologists work on average per week? is it even possible to get a 40-50 hour work week?

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[typhoonegator]

Totally possible. Closer to 60 but that's because I go in really early. And some weekends. But I'm home for dinner with the kids on most nights.

 

[deathmerchant]

I am about to be a college freshman and for as long as I can remember I've wanted to be a neurologist. My mom has a brain injury and I want to help people just like her. I can't really imagine doing anything else, but lately I've been wondering... I know doctors work A LOT. But I still want to have a big focus on my future family because family has always been my main priority, and I don't want to spend every waking hour at work. I don't want to be the parent who is always working and never has time for their kids. Is this possible? How much do neurologists work on average per week? is it even possible to get a 40-50 hour work week?

It will be difficult in the first 10 years( med school/residency/fellowship) to keep it under 60, and atleast couple of years of close to 80 hrs. But after that u can easily funnel into an academic outpatient position that would be 40-50 hrs a week, may be even less.

 

[typhoonegator]

It will be difficult in the first 10 years( med school/residency/fellowship) to keep it under 60, and atleast couple of years of close to 80 hrs. But after that u can easily funnel into an academic outpatient position that would be 40-50 hrs a week, may be even less.

Oh, yeah, I was sort of ignoring all the training. 60-80 hours a week for the first 4 years of residency, and then possibly the same for a couple more during fellowship, and then it can cool off.

 

[Kazaki]

Why on earth are you thinking about residency when you haven't even started uni? Just focus on acing undergrad and just have fun while you still have all the free time in the world, because after you go into med time off will be more precious than gold. Heck I'm in clinical years and I still don't know what I want to specialise in, and you're already set on neuro before med school? Piece of advise, don't go into med with that attitude, be open to everything before deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life.

 

[NeuroDO3536]

Why on earth are you thinking about residency when you haven't even started uni? Just focus on acing undergrad and just have fun while you still have all the free time in the world, because after you go into med time off will be more precious than gold. Heck I'm in clinical years and I still don't know what I want to specialise in, and you're already set on neuro before med school? Piece of advise, don't go into med with that attitude, be open to everything before deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life.

I don't think the question was about residency. They're asking what a typical neurologist's hours are like. It's a good idea to get some information before starting down the long path of pre-med, med school, and residency. Nothing wrong with getting some information, or having a specific goal in mind when you start. To answer the question, yes you can definitely find a job where you work 40-50 hours per week when you are done with training.