Function

• Neurosurgeons diagnose and treat disorders of the central nervous system using surgical and non-surgical means. In addition to treating brain conditions, such as tumors and aneurysms, brain surgeons also treat spinal tumors, back pain, clogged arteries of the nervous system, neurodegenerative disorders and spinal and head trauma.
  
  

Features

• Brain surgeons use the latest medical technology in their work. Aspiring surgeons must be willing to find the time to stay up-to-date with medical advances. Many types of brain surgery are performed using microscopic and computer-guided techniques to minimize the impact on the unaffected areas of the brain. These techniques are used in surgery involving the treatment of brain tumors, strokes, vascular problems, trauma and structural defects.
  Neurosurgeons also perform surgery on the spine to treat such conditions as stenosis, herniated spinal discs and severe arthritis. Neurosurgeons must familiarize themselves with a variety of common and rare nervous system disorders and must be prepared to develop unique treatments for uncommon disorders.
  Because brain problems often happen quickly due to trauma, stroke and aneurysm, surgeons work long and irregular hours and must be willing to serve an on-call rotation.
  
  

Time Frame

• If you are considering becoming a brain surgeon, you will need to obtain a bachelor's degree with a major in pre-med or the sciences to be admitted to medical school. After graduating from medical school, you will serve a hospital internship and then enter a neurosurgery residency program that will range from five to seven years, depending on the program. Some residents choose to specialize even further and complete a fellowship following their residency.
  
  

Considerations

• The residency program will prepare you to evaluate and diagnose patients and perform surgery. Because neurosurgery is one of the most demanding specialties, the residency program is difficult and requires manual dexterity needed for operating on sensitive areas of the body and the ability to focus on difficult tasks for long periods of time.
  After several years as a practicing neurologist, you will be eligible to take the American Board of Neurological Surgery examination. Passing this test will provide you with board certification in neurosurgery.
  
  

Benefits

• Brain surgeons are among the highest paid of all the medical specialties, reflecting the extended education and special skills possessed by these doctors. It is unlikely that the demand for this specialty will ever diminish. Neurosurgeons who no longer wish to perform surgery can choose to become neurologists instead and still make full use of their previous experience. Neurologists treat disorders of the brain and central nervous system with medication and other therapies and refer patients to neurosurgeons when surgery is necessary.