I am currently in my junior year of high school taking science as my major and because I want to be the best neurologist in the world.Can anyone tell me what my college years and med school years will be like if and can you please throw in and advice or two or anything that can help me be the best goddam neurologist in the world..
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It is good that you want to be a neurologist.
To become a Neurologist, a new doctor must make a significant educational commitment that includes not only an undergraduate degree and four years of medical school, but also a one year internship and three years of highly specialized neurological training. In some cases, when the doctor elects to follow a specific subset of this field such as neuromuscular diseases, pain management, or strokes, still additional educational studies are necessary.
Although neurology itself is a very vertical field of study, it includes a great many diseases and conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord, peripheral and cranial nerves and the autonomic nervous system. Some of these are infections of the brain such as meningitis, encephalitis and myelitis; degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS; cerebral palsey, TIA’s, stroke and movement diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and tic disorder, to name just some.
A neurological examination is usually very complete in order to permit an accurate diagnosis that meets the patient’s needs. It examines different parts of the nervous system by focusing on the patient’s health history, mental status, motor system, cranial nerves, sensory system, coordination and gait. While the entire battery of tests is important for accurate patient evaluation, the mental status portion is critical in exposing neurological diseases that result in changes in intellect, emotions and important personality characteristics. Quite frequently the mental assessment exposes important diagnostic factors when other tests do not. Every step is taken to restore the patient to good health.
If the patient requires surgery for his condition, such as a brain tumor, he is generally referred to a Neurosurgeon, another highly-specialized doctor who in addition to being a Neurologist is also an expert surgeon.
Finally, it seems quite likely that the field of neurology will experience many changes for the better as time goes on, especially as new discoveries emerge in the field of genetics and other related scientific and medical disciplines.
To become a Neurologist, a new doctor must make a significant educational commitment that includes not only an undergraduate degree and four years of medical school, but also a one year internship and three years of highly specialized neurological training. In some cases, when the doctor elects to follow a specific subset of this field such as neuromuscular diseases, pain management, or strokes, still additional educational studies are necessary.
Although neurology itself is a very vertical field of study, it includes a great many diseases and conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord, peripheral and cranial nerves and the autonomic nervous system. Some of these are infections of the brain such as meningitis, encephalitis and myelitis; degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS; cerebral palsey, TIA’s, stroke and movement diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and tic disorder, to name just some.
A neurological examination is usually very complete in order to permit an accurate diagnosis that meets the patient’s needs. It examines different parts of the nervous system by focusing on the patient’s health history, mental status, motor system, cranial nerves, sensory system, coordination and gait. While the entire battery of tests is important for accurate patient evaluation, the mental status portion is critical in exposing neurological diseases that result in changes in intellect, emotions and important personality characteristics. Quite frequently the mental assessment exposes important diagnostic factors when other tests do not. Every step is taken to restore the patient to good health.
If the patient requires surgery for his condition, such as a brain tumor, he is generally referred to a Neurosurgeon, another highly-specialized doctor who in addition to being a Neurologist is also an expert surgeon.
Finally, it seems quite likely that the field of neurology will experience many changes for the better as time goes on, especially as new discoveries emerge in the field of genetics and other related scientific and medical disciplines.
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It would be way premature to pick your specialty this early. Worry about getting into and finishing med school first.