Neurosurgery Vacation Time

[alex8712]

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I'm interested in going into neurosurgery and am fine working extremely long hours, being one of those masochistic types who enjoys being around the hospital around the clock. However, I would like some time off now and again and was wondering how much vacation time neurosurgeons in private practice and in academia get post-residency. (From what I can gather during residency vacation time is around 3 weeks a year). I was wondering if the rumors I'd heard of 4 months off a year are true, or just myths.

Thanks.

 

[maxheadroom]

I'd never let someone crack my coconut if they're taking four months of vacation per year. But hey, that's just me.

 

[nuclearrabbit77]

from what i hear, is that neurosurgeons are really up there
on the list when it comes to working long hours.
i think it's self-selected though in a way...
personalities tend to gravitate to their natural fit.

 

[dr barb]

Originally posted by alex8712
I'm interested in going into neurosurgery and am fine working extremely long hours, being one of those masochistic types who enjoys being around the hospital around the clock. However, I would like some time off now and again and was wondering how much vacation time neurosurgeons in private practice and in academia get post-residency. (From what I can gather during residency vacation time is around 3 weeks a year). I was wondering if the rumors I'd heard of 4 months off a year are true, or just myths.

Thanks.

I think radiologists are the ones who vacation 4 months a year. Both my mentor and her husband are neurosurgeons and they don't seem to go on vacation very much, just a few days here and there. But in private practice, isn't it really up to you?

 

[alex8712]

Thanks for the input so far. Yeah, I guess I pretty much suspected that it was unlikely that academics would get too much personal time however you slice it. Is it feasible in private practice, though, to find a group that would let you take 2-3 months off a year, say to spend time with one's kids over the summer or in the form of working only two out of four weeks a month for a couple months, with reduced compensation (doing fewer surgeries after all) as a trade off? I'm honestly uncertain and can't seem to gather whether there are a lot of these types of groups out there in neurosurgery like there are in radiology or anesthesiology or whether any group you'd join into would expect you to work a full year.

Thanks again.

 

[bobbyseal]

The thing about neurosurgery is that the residency programs typically have a fair amount of research built into them. From what I've read, it seems like neurosurgery residencies look to get people who are interested in doing research. Thus, many of the graduates look to get into academic centers. Maybe, it's the ongoing influence of Harvey Cushing.

However, there are the neurosurgeons with spine fellowships who do diskectomies like they work in a factory and don't do much research.