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SOAPed into Neurology
- Thread starter DrSatan
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Welcome aboard!
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Neurosciences in general are blooming right now in terms of opportunity and scientific research. Our understanding of neurological diseases and their treatments are expanding quickly and dramatically (for example, nusinersen, MS treatments, thrombectomy). So it's a good time to be in the field. The subspecialties in neurology are broad, and you can tailor your future practice however you see fit. That means, if you want to do outpatient only, it is possible. Inpatient only - also possible. 50/50 mix, also possible. Critical care? Yes. Endovascular - it's a long, tough, and annoying road to get there, but yes.
Neurology residency is busier than what most people believe. In my large, academic program, we are easily the most heavily consulted non-trauma/surgical service. It is also difficult subject matter because in medical school, you only touch the tip of the iceberg in terms of disease processes. Learning the anatomy and physiology is complex, because the nervous system works in different ways in different parts of the body. This is a good thing for most of us going into or in neurology, because that's one of the most common motivations for joining the field.
Intern year - focus on getting a good medicine background, which will help you take care of your inpatients and allow you to think systemically about any disease process you may encounter. After that, you'll be knee deep in brain and spinal cord stuff.
Regarding fellowship - as mentioned before, the choices are broad. Epilepsy, Movement Disorders, Neuromuscular, Neurophysiology, Neuroimmunology, Neuroinfectious Disease, Neurooncology, Cognitive/Behavioral Neurology/Neuropsychiatry, Vascular Neurology, Critical Care, Neuroendovascular Surgery, Headache, Pain Management/Interventional Pain Management, Sleep Medicine... maybe I'm still missing a few, and obviously some of these specialties you can only practice at an academic/referral center.
Just enjoy the time you have before residency starts. You'll pick things up once you start if you're even halfway capable.
Neurology residency is busier than what most people believe. In my large, academic program, we are easily the most heavily consulted non-trauma/surgical service. It is also difficult subject matter because in medical school, you only touch the tip of the iceberg in terms of disease processes. Learning the anatomy and physiology is complex, because the nervous system works in different ways in different parts of the body. This is a good thing for most of us going into or in neurology, because that's one of the most common motivations for joining the field.
Intern year - focus on getting a good medicine background, which will help you take care of your inpatients and allow you to think systemically about any disease process you may encounter. After that, you'll be knee deep in brain and spinal cord stuff.
Regarding fellowship - as mentioned before, the choices are broad. Epilepsy, Movement Disorders, Neuromuscular, Neurophysiology, Neuroimmunology, Neuroinfectious Disease, Neurooncology, Cognitive/Behavioral Neurology/Neuropsychiatry, Vascular Neurology, Critical Care, Neuroendovascular Surgery, Headache, Pain Management/Interventional Pain Management, Sleep Medicine... maybe I'm still missing a few, and obviously some of these specialties you can only practice at an academic/referral center.
Just enjoy the time you have before residency starts. You'll pick things up once you start if you're even halfway capable.
