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How can I become a surgeon?

Brain surgeon

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Subject: Career question for you

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Fred’s Answer

A surgeon is an M.D. wth specialized training. A brain surgeon would have even MORE training. Traditional steps are:

1) high school (4 years)
2) undergraduate (4 years) - usually majoring in Bio or Chem, but not required
3) Medical school (4 years)
4) this is where I'm not sure, but you'd have to do residencies to get training in surgery and then specifically brain surgery. My GUESS is this is another 4-8 years
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Rita’s Answer

Fred is correct:
4 years high school
4 years college
4 years medical school
7 years Neurosurgery residency

To "match" in surgery, it is very competitive. Match is where you apply to programs and they rank you and you rank them. On Match Day, you find out which program you will attend. Because surgery is competitive, they usually match before other fields (internal medicine, peds, family medicine). In medical school, you are competing with the best of the best.

I don't believe people realize how difficult medical school and becoming a doctor is. It affects your personal life. You put medicine before yourself and your family. You are on call which means you will need to be ready to go to the hospital if there is an emergency which means if you are at a party and they call you, you will need to leave. You shouldn't drink alcohol because if you need to operate, you need a clear mind.

I recommend every person interested in medicine become a medical scribe. It helps you see what doctors do, you learn the language of medicine, and this will help you in medical school.
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Aisha’s Answer

Hi Manor,

Becoming a brain surgeon requires a significant commitment to education, training, and personal development. Here's a general roadmap to help you get started:

1. **Undergraduate Education**: Complete a bachelor's degree in a science-related field. While there's no specific requirement for the undergraduate major, courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and math are beneficial. Maintain a high GPA as admission to medical school is competitive.

2. **Medical School**: After completing your undergraduate degree, you need to attend medical school. Prepare for and take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) during your junior or senior year of college. Apply to medical schools and complete a four-year medical program to earn your Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.

3. **Residency**: Following medical school, aspiring brain surgeons must complete a residency program in neurosurgery. Neurosurgery residencies typically last 6-7 years. During residency, you'll receive hands-on training in various aspects of neurosurgery under the supervision of experienced surgeons.

4. **Fellowship (Optional)**: Some brain surgeons choose to pursue additional specialized training through a fellowship program. Fellowships provide focused training in areas such as pediatric neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, or functional neurosurgery.

5. **Board Certification**: After completing residency and fellowship (if pursued), you'll need to become board-certified in neurosurgery. This involves passing written and oral exams administered by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) or another relevant certifying organization in your country.

6. **Licensure**: Obtain a medical license to practice neurosurgery in your state or country. Licensure requirements vary by location but typically involve passing a licensing exam and meeting other state-specific requirements.

7. **Continuing Education**: Stay updated with the latest advancements in neurosurgery by participating in continuing medical education (CME) activities, attending conferences, and engaging in research.

8. **Professional Development**: Develop strong communication skills, empathy, and professionalism. Brain surgery requires collaboration with other healthcare professionals and interacting with patients and their families, so interpersonal skills are crucial.

Remember, the path to becoming a brain surgeon is challenging and requires dedication, perseverance, and a genuine passion for helping others.
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nwankwo’s Answer

Becoming a surgeon is a challenging and rewarding journey that requires dedication, hard work, and a significant amount of education and training. Below are the general steps typically involved in becoming a surgeon:

1.Undergraduate Education: Complete a bachelor's degree with a strong emphasis on science courses such as biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. While some medical schools do not require a specific major, it is essential to complete the prerequisite courses for medical school.

2.Medical School: After completing your undergraduate degree, you must attend medical school to earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. Medical school typically takes four years to complete and includes both classroom instruction and clinical rotations.

3.Residency Training: Following medical school, aspiring surgeons must complete a residency program in their chosen surgical specialty. Surgical residencies can last anywhere from five to seven years, depending on the specialty. During residency, you will receive hands-on training in a hospital setting under the supervision of experienced surgeons.

4.Fellowship (Optional): Some surgeons choose to pursue additional training in the form of a fellowship to further specialize in a specific area of surgery. Fellowships typically last one to two years and provide advanced training in a particular surgical subspecialty.

5.Obtain Licensure: After completing residency training, you must obtain a medical license to practice as a surgeon. Licensure requirements vary by state or country but generally involve passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX).

6.Board Certification: While board certification is not always required to practice as a surgeon, becoming board-certified demonstrates your expertise and commitment to your specialty. To become board-certified, you must pass the certification exam administered by the relevant specialty board.

7.Continuing Education: As a surgeon, it is essential to stay current with advances in the field by participating in continuing medical education (CME) activities and maintaining licensure and certification as required.

Please bear in mind that becoming a surgeon is a long and demanding process that requires a significant investment of time, effort, and resources. It is crucial to carefully consider whether a career in surgery is the right fit for you before embarking on this path.
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