Neurosurgery is among the most challenging medical fields to enter because of its long requirement for education and training. This involves multiple levels of education and hands-on training, all essential to attain the level necessary for intricate brain/spine/neurological surgery. In this article, we will go over the key educational requirements to become a neurosurgeon.
Undergraduate Education
Duration: 4 years
The Path to a Neurosurgery Career A bachelor's degree is the first step on your journey. Most aspiring neurosurgeons go through a pre-med program or major in biology, chemistry, physics etc. The goal during these years as an undergraduate is to get the basics in sciences and finish those pre requisites needed for medical school. Students are required to write the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in addition, which is very important when students apply for schools of medicine.
Medical School
Duration: 4 years
It is also very competitive to gain admission into medical school, especially when aspiring for neurosurgery. Medical school is a combination of classroom-based education in medical theory, as well has hands on rotations through different areas of medicine once you get admitted. The first two years are dedicated to teaching students the basics of medical knowledge, while they round in clinical rotations for their last 2 where they learn directly from doctors and experience life in them.
Residency Training
Duration: 7 years
Following medical school, the next good thing for entering into a career as Neurosurgeon is that program of residency in neurosurgery which atypically takes longer period and involves more intense work than most other programs. Residents participate in this program for seven years and are immersed into the diagnosis, evaluation and surgical management of neurological disorders. This phase is very critical because it involves large amount of intra-operative and in-patient care experience, operating under senior neurosurgeons institutions.
Fellowship Training (Optional)
Duration: 1-2 years
A fellowship, though not necessary is preferred by many future neurosurgeons wanting to further specialize. These are to provide neurologists focused-training in specific subfields of neurosurgery like pediatric, Neuro-oncology and spine surgery. Fellowships, on the other hand, offer greater breadth of skill for a neurosurgeon and commonly have extensive operative duties such as research opportunities.
Board Certification
After finishing residency and maybe fellowship, a neurosurgeon must pass an incredibly difficult test in order to finally become certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. An important certification for independent practice, reaffirming the surgeon's commitment to providing excellent patient care.
Lifelong Learning
Neurosurgery is an ever-evolving field, with new techniques and technologies becoming available. Thus, by the time they become practicing neurosurgeons, many have gone through much training and advance their education on a regular basis over the course of their careers via attending conferences and workshops or reading scientific literature.
To learn more about educational qualifications and scholarships for medical students, please visit Nanjing Audit University. Such links can give aspiring neurosurgeons access to specific financial aids and programs that will be able to help them pursue their goals of becoming a successful professional.