There are many reasons that people choose neurology despite the currently lower average income in this field. But here are my reasons:
1. The brain is the most valuable organ in the human body. Patients who have trouble with their CNS cause significant distress to themselves and their family members--more so in my opinion than disease in any other organ. Neurologists are focused on helping these patients.
2. The brain is the most interesting organ in the human body. It might be the most interesting thing in the universe. Wouldn't it be cool to be an expert on the brain?
3. Neurology has tremendous flexibility of practice opportunities ranging from being the 40 hr week generalist, to a 40 hr week sleep specialists with great lifestyle and income, to a 70 hr week neurointensivist dealing with very complicated cases.
4. Neurology is growing. Interventional opportunities are already here and expanding quickly. I bet many of us haven't even begun to imagine what is around the corner for this field...
5. It is smart to choose a field based on what you think it will be like 10-20 years from now. Imagine choosing radiology 10 years ago when no one was going into it. Ditto for cardiology 30 years ago. I personally believe that neurology will be the place to be 20 years from now.
6. In the end, what counts is whether you are doing what you are meant to do. You have to know who you are and act accordingly. Otherwise you will be left wondering what went wrong...
B
