Neurosurgery without residency

[Arkady]

I don't know if this is an interesting question or if it is plain stupid for me to ask.

But can a neurosurgeon practice his craft without accreditation?

Is residency confined to academic neurosurgeons or is it compulsory for every neurosurgeon to complete?

And is it enough to pass the Neurosurgery Board Examination to become a neurosurgeon without finishing a residency?

I realize that you have to get to Med school first before asking those type of questions. But I was just wondering...

PS: I did a Google search 1st and found that "More than 1000 neurosurgeons practice in the United States without certification." But it's a pay per view article so I can't read it. Hopefully I will get a lot of insight from you guys.

thanks in advance

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[glsser]

I don't know if this is an interesting question or if it is plain stupid for me to ask.

But can a neurosurgeon practice his craft without accreditation?

Is residency confined to academic neurosurgeons or is it compulsory for every neurosurgeon to complete?

And is it enough to pass the Neurosurgery Board Examination to become a neurosurgeon without finishing a residency?

I realize that you have to get to Med school first before asking those type of questions. But I was just wondering...

PS: I did a Google search 1st and found that "More than 1000 neurosurgeons practice in the United States without certification." But it's a pay per view article so I can't read it. Hopefully I will get a lot of insight from you guys.

thanks in advance

I doubt it. patients won't feel comfortable with an uncertified neurosurgeon.

 

[gman33]

Theoretically you can practice any kind of medicine you want as long as you have a medical license.
From a practical standpoint, you are never going to get insurance or hospital privledges.

 

[Samoa]

"without certification" is not the same as "without residency."

It's definitely possible to complete a residency, and for whatever reason not become board certified. But you can't become board certified in neurosurgery without having done a residency in neurosurgery.

 

[Gozar]

as alluded to in the post above, you are not even allowed to sit the exam without being board eligible. in order to be board eligible you must complete/be at an accredited institution. its like the step, in order to sit for it you must have your enrollment verified.

you can get a job as a neurosurgeon without board certification but these jobs are listed as openings for board eligible surgeons that are in the process of taking the boards.

 

[Arkady]

"without certification" is not the same as "without residency."

It's definitely possible to complete a residency, and for whatever reason not become board certified. But you can't become board certified in neurosurgery without having done a residency in neurosurgery.

Ok
But do you have to complete your residency in the U.S?
&
Is residency confined to academic neurosurgeons or is it compulsory for every neurosurgeon to complete? That is, is it possible (even theoretically) to perform n eurosurgical operations without entering a residency program?

 

[beaverfetus]

you are off in left field. you learn how to do neurosurgery during residency. it takes years to learn, that period of training is called residency. there are no neurosurgeons in the world that have not done something equivalent to a residency

 

[Arkady]

you are off in left field. you learn how to do neurosurgery during residency. it takes years to learn, that period of training is called residency. there are no neurosurgeons in the world that have not done something equivalent to a residency

I do understand that😎 However, given that the length of residency is not uniform throughout the world and what gman33 alluded to: "Theoretically you can practice any kind of medicine you want as long as you have a medical license" I wanted to understand all the possible paths for becoming a neurosurgeon.

Also if residency was the only path, does it have to be done exclusively in the US?

 

[beaverfetus]

there would not be an operating room in the united states that would let you inside an operating room, let alone near a patient without a residency. Trying to operate on a patient without a residency would probably result in criminal charges. Although I doubt it would get that far because there is not a hospital in the US that would hire you, or give you privileges.

As far as residencies in other countries go, its a long road for a foreign trained surgeon to re-certify in the US, it usually requires re-doing the residency. You hear of "double trained" surgeons, that's what they are talking about.

if you are asking about what it takes to become a practicing neurosurgeon in another country, then I can't help you, but I can assure you it still takes a great length of time.

 

[Arkady]

there would not be an operating room in the united states that would let you inside an operating room, let alone near a patient without a residency. Trying to operate on a patient without a residency would probably result in criminal charges. Although I doubt it would get that far because there is not a hospital in the US that would hire you, or give you privileges.

As far as residencies in other countries go, its a long road for a foreign trained surgeon to re-certify in the US, it usually requires re-doing the residency. You hear of "double trained" surgeons, that's what they are talking about.

if you are asking about what it takes to become a practicing neurosurgeon in another country, then I can't help you, but I can assure you it still takes a great length of time.

Thanks for the insight. Not to sound like I'm really insisting on that matter but how come that "More than 1000 neurosurgeons practice in the United States without certification." I can't really confirm that citation as it's a pay per view paper, but it's sourced from a medical journal and is authored by David G. McLone, MD, PhD, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill.,USA. So if you can clarify that issue I would greatly appreciate it.
Source:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...out+certification&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq= ; search result

http://content.karger.com/ProdukteD...ikelNr=120635&Ausgabe=235178&ProduktNr=224273 ; paper

&

I was curious how could Ben Carson become the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital at 33.

 

[beaverfetus]

Thanks for the insight. Not to sound like I'm really insisting on that matter but how come that "More than 1000 neurosurgeons practice in the United States without certification." I can't really confirm that citation as it's a pay per view paper, but it's sourced from a medical journal and is authored by David G. McLone, MD, PhD, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill.,USA. So if you can clarify that issue I would greatly appreciate it.
Source:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...out+certification&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq= ; search result

http://content.karger.com/ProdukteD...ikelNr=120635&Ausgabe=235178&ProduktNr=224273 ; paper

&

I was curious how could Ben Carson become the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital at 33.

havent read the paper. board certification and completion of a residency are two completely different things however. Some docs practice "board eligible"
meaning they completed residency so they qualify for the specialty boards, but they dont actually take/ pass the test.

As per your Ben Carson question: College graduation 21-22, Med school graduation 25-26, +6-7 (neuro surg residency) 31-33, +1 yr pediatric neuro surg fellowship 32-34. And apparently he was hired as a director I guess...

It's also possible he entered med school before 21

 

[Arkady]

Now I understand 😉