Recent content by mpp

Neurosurgery ticks the boxes on your list. The road is long but the lifestyle is not as bad as most make it out to be (but it ain’t dermatology). As a mid-career neurosurgeon I do see the younger ones coming out of training expecting more for less which I guess just means that “lifestyle” is...

A couple of my opinions for what they are worth: Join the Navy or Air Force because you want to serve in the military, not because you want to be a pilot. Research this well. It is a true commitment to serve in the military. Even more so than going into medicine. Your life will be more in their...

I agree. Wouldn’t worry too much about it. Just have a good explanation of why you decided on neurosurgery despite your background being in somewhere else as it is likely to be asked at interviews. The research skill set and mindset are more important than the actual topics of such research in...

I’m not sure there are any good metrics. Lots of changes since I was in the match process…many new DO medical schools, pass/fail Step 1, etc. so it is hard for me to say what would be the best medical school. I think the a more important than the particular medical school in getting a match...

I don’t know the oldest in my program but it was older than I am. I started neurosurgery residency at age 35 completing at age 42. All of the old-timers completed residency. Others did not, either quitting, getting kicked out, or unfortunately even suicide. I am glad I got to spend my 20’s in a...

Nothing special about hitting the ground rolling. Everyone, for the most part, starts at the same stage. But I think there are things to remember as you go through residency. You'll find lots of posts about how to be a good intern scattered about SDN. The summary is just be honest, work well...

Not sure the typical age that a neurosurgeon retires but I have met plenty in their mid to late 60s and still operating feverishly. It is certainly doable into your 70s if you wish and remain healthy. The good news is, if you play your financial cards right, you could retire in much younger if...

One of the smaller programs. One resident per year. Back when I interviewed there they would send one resident to a private practice in Maine for a year which is a unique...don't know if they still do that.

Pursue what you have the most interest in. Neuro research is better but not required.

Neurosurgery is awesome. Spend some time in each and see what you like better.

I don't think we know through how much brain the bullet traveled. As long as the shock wave does not damage the critical structures (essentially, the brain stem) there is no reason that she should not live. She could be neurologically devastated (hemiplegic, possibly aphasic although it sounds...

The chairman at OHSU is primarily a functional neurosurgeon. He did the first DBS in the U.S. and likely does more DBS than any other neurosurgeon in the country (two or three each week). He does many microvascular decompressions, epilepsy cases, vagal nerve stimulators, spinal cord stimulators...

I agree with that perspective. They are very different. Most of the neurosurgeons I know were never torn between those specialities. I also thought about neurology early on but quickly realized it is not for me. We all have interest in neuroscience (neurologists and neurosurgeons both) but the...

There is no "in general" answer to the question. Each program is a bit different. We have 2 research years. One year is completely protected from clinical responsibility and call (6th year). The other year (3rd year) you are not in the general call pool but you do cover call when one of the...

I am not sure what your question is. There is good and bad clinical and basic science research. The pure neurosurgery journal are not regarded as highly for basic science research (although they do publish basic science research). Any research in traumatic brain injury is definitely neurosurgery...