OMFS and Neurosurgery

[math14320]

Hi, does anyone know if I can complete my OMFS residency and then do another residency on neurosurgery?

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[schmoob]

Yes, but you would have to do a residency in plastic surgery as a prerequisite.

 

[Racquetball3r]

Hi, does anyone know if I can complete my OMFS residency and then do another residency on neurosurgery?

Not sure if you’re serious, but I’ll humor you. I guess theoretically it would be possible if you did a 6 year omfs program (Where you complete Med school), had competitive stats while in med school and got accepted to a neuro program (another 6 years) after your OMFS residency . Although you would certainly lose a lot of your OMFS skill over 6 years of neuro training. Just to put it in perspective, you would be doing 4 years dental + 6 years OMFS + 6 years neuro = 16 years of training. All to probably only practice a limited scope of both specialties? No thanks

Not sure what aspect of neuro appeals to you, but you could look into doing a fellowship in craniofacial surgery after OS residency.

 

[BlackThought]

Hi, does anyone know if I can complete my OMFS residency and then do another residency on neurosurgery?

 

[GimmeTheScalpel]

Not sure if you’re serious, but I’ll humor you. I guess theoretically it would be possible if you did a 6 year omfs program (Where you complete Med school), had competitive stats while in med school and got accepted to a neuro program (another 6 years) after your OMFS residency . Although you would certainly lose a lot of your OMFS skill over 6 years of neuro training. Just to put it in perspective, you would be doing 4 years dental + 6 years OMFS + 6 years neuro = 16 years of training. All to probably only practice a limited scope of both specialties? No thanks

Not sure what aspect of neuro appeals to you, but you could look into doing a fellowship in craniofacial surgery after OS residency.

If he/she wants to perform surgery on the brain or spine, then OMFS or even craniofacial surgery won’t appeal to him/her.

 

[ToothJockey]

Solid first post

Future neurosurgeon in the making

 

[Racquetball3r]

If he/she wants to perform surgery on the brain or spine, then OMFS or even craniofacial surgery won’t appeal to him/her.

Agreed

 

[mmc12]

Why not also get a PhD while at it as well?

 

[OMSDoc]

Hi Math14320,

This is the internet, so take everyone's comments for what they are.

I am assuming you are serious, and I am assuming your are not yet in dental school, but have a knowledge about oral and maxillofacial surgery based on either someone you know or something you have read, perhaps here at SDN.

As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the only time that I interact with neurosurgeons are:
1. If I want to harvest a cranial bone graft, and then I will only do it if they are down the hall operating at the same time.
2. In cranio-maxillofacial trauma cases, where we only interact for a small amount of time.
3. When they bring their kids in to get their wisdom teeth removed.

I would say you need to decide either to go to medical school or to dental school at the outset.

Having said that, I wanted to be a cardiac surgeon when I started college. My dad (an OMS) had me work for him during the summers, and I worked at the hospital across the street, so I was able to see everything (cardiac, neuro, ortho, general, etc.).

I found what he did (OMS) was much more interesting, had more variety, and he wasn't down at the hospital at 10:00 p.m. dealing with complications. And the patients did not die after surgery.

So I changed to pre-dental my junior year of college. I have never looked back.

PM me if you want some nonjudgmental feedback.

BTW, did you know that 4 our of 3 people have a hard time with math?

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

Could always specialize in endodontics and become a micro-neurovascular surgeon. That’s only 2 years post DDS/DMD.

Big Hoss

 

[Captain Underplants]

I know several MDs who finished residency and then decided they'd rather do Omfs and went back and did dental school and did OMFS, even a couple attendings who did Med school > Plastics > OMFS. Never the other way around, our specialty is the envy of others for good reason, nobody leaves OMFS for the high stress world of Neurosurgery, and you would probably never get in because it's an elitist club

 

[mmc12]

I know several MDs who finished residency and then decided they'd rather do Omfs and went back and did dental school and did OMFS, even a couple attendings who did Med school > Plastics > OMFS. Never the other way around, our specialty is the envy of others for good reason, nobody leaves OMFS for the high stress world of Neurosurgery, and you would probably never get in because it's an elitist club

They must have been at least 40 before finishing up medical school, residency, then dental school and OMFS training....

 

[teefturnsmeon]

Yes, you better get your pharma diploma while your at it.

 

[deleted913442]

Someone just finished up the Lenox Hill Netflix documentary..

 

[Kundalini]

OP wants to do the whole trauma case from start to finish, starting with brain surgery and then reconstructing the facial structures?

It’d be BADASS >20 hour surgeries.

Unrealistic and impractical, but possible.

and unnecessary...

 

[PerioDont]

IMO If you want to be a neurosurgeon, drop out of DS and become a med school gunner to become a neurosurgeon.

 

[PokerDonk11]

OP wants to do the whole trauma case from start to finish, starting with brain surgery and then reconstructing the facial structures?

It’d be BADASS >20 hour surgeries.

Unrealistic and impractical, but possible.

Throw in a quick prophy, fluoride varnish and maybe fill in those class 2's while you're at it?