Would you mind elaborating about the pros and cons of academics vs. private practice in neurosurgery?
Edit: sorry, didn't see this was already asked!
The differences between private practice and academics can vary depending on the practice model. For the most part, PP is seen as higher income, better life-style while academics is less income and more educational responsibilities. The reality is typically somewhere in between.
To generalize, private practice can be an independent solo practice, a group/partner practice, a large multi-specialty group practice, or even a hospital employee. The same thing applies to academics in that the payment source for the surgeon varies by department. The difference, however, is the latter have an appointment with a school of medicine, educational responsibilities for fellows, residents, and/or medical students, and often other things associated with academics (Dean's Tax, tenure, academic output requirements, and so forth).
In the eyes of organized medicine, and certainly students, those in academics are well respected. That isn't to say that surgeons in PP are not respected, they simply aren't as visible, implicitly, by nature of their position.
The long and short of it comes down to what one wants to do with his or her career. Regardless of specialty interest, or lack thereof, no one walks in to a position focusing only on their specialty at a high pay with very few hours. Everyone must build a reputation, establish their practice; pay their dues so to speak. There are opportunities on both sides of the fence for things like partnering with industry, research, and advancement of the field. Academics, however, tends to be better known for this. Likewise, for those who want to fill the need of the general population, private practice is a great career. The vast majority of people who need neurosurgeons won't need them for the latest cutting edge or most specialized techniques. We have a term "bread and butter" to describe the common cases in neurosurgery because they are well established pathologies with well established treatment procedures. Certainly, continuing to evolve these procedures is necessary. For now, though, they are a safe way for the majority of people with neurosurgical issues to be treated.
