Shadowing a Neurosurgeon

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DdrumbumD

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I'm starting my MSI this fall and I'm going to be shadowing/doing research for a neurosurgeon as well. I have experience w/ research and some with shadowing but what should I expect from a surgeon or more importantly a neurosurgeon?

I know my attitude to learn and his attitude towards teaching plays an important role in this, but I'm asking some people who have experience in neurosurgery rotations or the like.....thanks
 
DdrumbumD said:
I'm starting my MSI this fall and I'm going to be shadowing/doing research for a neurosurgeon as well. I have experience w/ research and some with shadowing but what should I expect from a surgeon or more importantly a neurosurgeon?

I know my attitude to learn and his attitude towards teaching plays an important role in this, but I'm asking some people who have experience in neurosurgery rotations or the like.....thanks
Click to expand...

DO NOT! use a ONE-handed tie. Some surgeons do not know how to do one and will tear you a new one if you show them up.....Trust me!
 
DdrumbumD said:
I'm starting my MSI this fall and I'm going to be shadowing/doing research for a neurosurgeon as well. I have experience w/ research and some with shadowing but what should I expect from a surgeon or more importantly a neurosurgeon?

I know my attitude to learn and his attitude towards teaching plays an important role in this, but I'm asking some people who have experience in neurosurgery rotations or the like.....thanks
Click to expand...

Go in with an open mind. Neurosurgeons are normal people (at least as "normal" as physicians can be, I suppose). Surgeons are normal people. Don't expect anything unusual. If you have experiences similar to mine, chances are s/he will be nice, careful, smart, and a hard worker. Some of them like to joke around; some don't seem to want to talk much at all. Some like sports; it just really depends on the person.
 
I spent a significant part of my MS1 year doing clinical research in neurosurgery with OR experience too. It was a fantastic time and really worth every minute.

Just remember a few things:

1) Your attending has been probably working 80-100 hours a week, every week, since they began their job. If they seem tired or cranky, it is not anything you did. But I'm not saying that on average, neurosurgeons are any meaner than other fields. I've never met a really malignant neurosurgeon, I think meanness is worn out of you in seven years of residency.

2) Everything the scrub nurse tells you is true. Regardless of what you may think. DO NOT challenge them. DO NOT ask them for instruments unless instructed. DO NOT make fun of them. They will make your life hell.

2b) The same applies for residents, fellows, anesthesiologists, and anyone else with an MD after their name.

3) Don't drop the bone flap.

4) Buy some reaaaaallly comfortable shoes, because in the land of brains, a four hour operation is mercifully short and 10+ is pretty common. Our record is 23. Yeah.

5) If you're interested in neurosurgery as a career, hanging out and doing operations and doing research is grand and all, but you CANNOT let your grades drop. Welcome to one of the most competitive fields in medicine. 👍

Oh, and practice suturing, because that may become your #1 job. No offense, but most attendings don't want you wielding the CUSA inside someone's head when you haven't yet finished gross anatomy.
 
FenixTx said:
Just out of curiosity, how did you arrange this shadowing/work opportunity before even starting at your school as an MS-I?
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I pretty much just emailed many programs that looked interesting and often had students shadowing them. I had to mail a CV and interview and such. I guess it helped that I already had some stuff published and already showed an interest in neuro as an undergrad? maybe just lucky...

Thanks for the info everyone....
 
I would try to get relatively proficient at craniotomies before you shadow this neurosurgeon. Usually a cat or dog suffices nicely.
 
that was a joke by the way. I just realized I should add that disclaimer. 🙂
 
HEADintheCLOUDS said:
DO NOT! use a ONE-handed tie. Some surgeons do not know how to do one and will tear you a new one if you show them up.....Trust me!
Click to expand...

But neurosurgeons are ALWAYS impressed by a three-handed tie.
 
OP, you haven't even started med school yet and you're zooming in on neurosurgery; you remind me of my ego-driven self about 3 years ago. You'll find out that being a neurosurgeon involves a lot more than TELLING people you're a neurosurgeon, and that it's more about picking at one tiny spot for 8 hours on end, constantly removing head dressing to check on the wounds you've made, and standing up during all meetings and rounds to avoid falling asleep.
 
I think I'd like to echo some of the other comments here - neurosurgeons are pretty normal dudes. I shadowed in Oregon some for two years as an undergrad, and although they certainly must have treated me different than they would a medical student (less pimping, more making fun of my tie), they seemed pretty well-adjusted.

Examples:

There's a Wii in the call room, and they have tons of games. I kind of want to get them that surgery game, whatever it's called, but it might be inappropriate.

I asked one once why he went into surgery. He said "In many ways my life is harder. But going to bars is way easier. All I have to do is be like 'hey you! I'm a neurosurgeon!' and I'm in like flynn." (He was obviously joking since he was post-call and awake for two days, but 10 points for that use of 'in like flynn')

Anyway, the moral of the story is: Oregon is great. We have lots of microbrews and no sales tax. I think I may have lost my train of thought here...
 
DdrumbumD said:
I'm starting my MSI this fall and I'm going to be shadowing/doing research for a neurosurgeon as well. I have experience w/ research and some with shadowing but what should I expect from a surgeon or more importantly a neurosurgeon?

I know my attitude to learn and his attitude towards teaching plays an important role in this, but I'm asking some people who have experience in neurosurgery rotations or the like.....thanks
Click to expand...

My suggestion is simple. Make sure you aren't getting your A$$ kicked by the MS1 coursework before you start making huge plans for research, shadowing and such. Medical school is too big of an investment to crap away the coursework for shadowing and other ECs.

Yes...It is easy to say now "as a pre-med waiting to start medical school that you can handle the load, and truthfully 1st year wasn't bad at all, but just make sure to give yourself the buffer at first.

I only say this because there was a guy in my 1st year class who was repeating 2nd year for that very reason.....Let me also note that he was dismissed about 1/2 way through his 2nd attempt at 1sty year because he just couldn't handle the courses...Anyway, best of luck. Work real hard at everything you do and you'll be good to go.

sCoOt
 
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