2 answers
Saban
Student
Grundy Center, Iowa
3
Questions
2 answers
Michelle H.
Business Associate
38
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hi Saban,
I've worked with neurosurgeons in the past, and it is a tough, tough specialty. Neurosurgeons perform a variety of procedures on the brain and spinal cord that require mastery of vascular, soft tissue, and orthopedic techniques. It's not unusual for a single, relatively "routine" case to take 7+ hours, and you'd likely perform multiple surgeries in a day. Given the parts of the body neurosurgeons work with, there's typically very little room for error and a high degree of unpredictability. With that said, as a neurosurgeon you have the opportunity to forever change peoples' lives--remove pain, restore function, and stave off life-threatening conditions. I'd recommend that you check out some books by neurosurgeons, such as "When the Air Hits Your Brain" by Dr. Frank Vertosick to get first-hand accounts of what the profession entails. Hope that helps!
I've worked with neurosurgeons in the past, and it is a tough, tough specialty. Neurosurgeons perform a variety of procedures on the brain and spinal cord that require mastery of vascular, soft tissue, and orthopedic techniques. It's not unusual for a single, relatively "routine" case to take 7+ hours, and you'd likely perform multiple surgeries in a day. Given the parts of the body neurosurgeons work with, there's typically very little room for error and a high degree of unpredictability. With that said, as a neurosurgeon you have the opportunity to forever change peoples' lives--remove pain, restore function, and stave off life-threatening conditions. I'd recommend that you check out some books by neurosurgeons, such as "When the Air Hits Your Brain" by Dr. Frank Vertosick to get first-hand accounts of what the profession entails. Hope that helps!
Hassan Al
Product Management Professional
398
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Hassan’s Answer
If you mean actually performing surgeries, I'd expect it to be the hardest. My understanding is that the brain is the least understood organ and so doing anything to it has to be challenging.
If you mean hardest to get into, then according to https://medschoolinsiders.com/medical-student/top-5-most-competitive-specialties-in-medicine/ it's the 3rd hardest to get matched in Med School.
If you mean hardest to get into, then according to https://medschoolinsiders.com/medical-student/top-5-most-competitive-specialties-in-medicine/ it's the 3rd hardest to get matched in Med School.