General vs. Specialized Neuro Training

[ExpertHoopJumper]

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Hi Forum Members,

I will start a two-year neuro postdoc this fall that evenly splits my time/effort between clinical and research training. The site offers numerous clinical training opportunities, including the chance to choose a specialty patient population after a time of general training. What are the thoughts and/or opinions of forum members on the benefits and drawbacks of choosing a specialty rather than remaining a "generalist?" I've always thought being a generalist (whether adult or peds) to be the best route as that would not limit potential job opportunities, but I often see job postings for a specific type of neuropsychologist. If it helps to have some context, my long-term career goals are to join the faculty at an R1 and primarily supervise clinical work following postdoc. Though I am also considering AMC jobs as well.

Thanks in advance.

 

[deleted343839]

How specialized are you talking about? Becoming a clinical subspecialist probably would prepare you better for an academic medicine career in a tertiary referral center, where there is a path to make a name for yourself as a researcher and clinician in a given specialty area. If you are more interested in a tenure track uni job, give some thought to whether subspecialty training would be compatible with the resources and facilities that most R1 institutions could realistically provide. To use an obvious and broad example, you're not going to maintain a program of research on a rare type of dementia in a psychology department, but focusing mainly on geriatric populations would be OK. Also, the additional effort you spend becoming a clinical specialist might be better spent on publications or grants if a TT uni job is the end goal.

 

[PsyDr]

Advice:

Look at the LIFESTYLE of the specialist.

 

[Justanothergrad]

Hi Forum Members,

I will start a two-year neuro postdoc this fall that evenly splits my time/effort between clinical and research training. The site offers numerous clinical training opportunities, including the chance to choose a specialty patient population after a time of general training. What are the thoughts and/or opinions of forum members on the benefits and drawbacks of choosing a specialty rather than remaining a "generalist?" I've always thought being a generalist (whether adult or peds) to be the best route as that would not limit potential job opportunities, but I often see job postings for a specific type of neuropsychologist. If it helps to have some context, my long-term career goals are to join the faculty at an R1 and primarily supervise clinical work following postdoc. Though I am also considering AMC jobs as well.

Thanks in advance.

From a R1 search committee standpoint, if you fit the bill for either an adult or child role (depending on the position/your goals), then the next thing that matters is the publications you have / record of research. The rest won't make a difference in terms of R1, or at least won't be weighed nearly the same as those two factors. I can't speak for AMC jobs. If your goal is R1, I would make choices which promote research production over sub-specialty for the sake of specializing. You may well be the only neuropsychologist in the department faculty.