What Is Involved in Neurosurgeon Training?

Training for aspiring neurosurgeons is referred to as a residency, which is hands-on training for neurosurgeons that takes place after medical school. This training usually last for several years and involves seeing patients, evaluating them, and managing their care, with responsibility levels gradually increasing. Residents get significant practice in surgery, first assisting or observing and eventually acting as the primary surgeon on a range of procedures. A period of research and time spent as the chief resident is often a part of neurosurgeon training as well.

One of the most important things to understand about neurosurgeon training is that it typically requires a significant commitment of time. In most countries, a person must first complete the required education to become a neurosurgeon, and this usually consists of about four years of college in an effort to earn a bachelor's degree followed by about four more years of medical school in an effort to become a doctor. After medical school, an aspiring neurosurgeon must then go on to complete a residency program in preparation for this career. In many places, such a program will last for several years.

Neurosurgeon training usually includes training in general surgery and neurosurgery. This training is generally intended to help an aspiring neurosurgeon build important clinical skills. Neurosurgeons also receive training in providing care before and after surgeries. These doctors gain practice with evaluating and managing treatment for a wide range of neurological disorders under the supervision of more experienced neurosurgeons and with the assistance of nurses and physician assistants.

An individual will usually also have the opportunity to participate in surgeries during his residency. Typically, he starts off as an assistant on surgeries, and in some cases, he may be present simply to observe. Over time, however, he will likely be given more and more responsibility. In most cases, he eventually will have the opportunity to act as the lead surgeon. With residency training, the emphasis is usually on giving doctors exposure to patients with a wide variety of illnesses and conditions and experience with many different types of surgery, including those that are performed on an emergency basis.

Often, research is part of the training of neurosurgeons. Residents are usually required to spend a significant amount of time in neuroscience research laboratories. During the period that the resident is focused on research, his clinical duties are typically reduced. In fact, many neurosurgery residency programs eliminate regular clinical duties when the residents are supposed to be closely focused on research.

Neurosurgeon training may also include time spent as the chief resident, which involves a wide variety of additional responsibilities. The chief resident, for example, is typically responsible for supervising and helping to teach medical students and other residents, performing administrative work, scheduling others to be on call, and assigning operating rooms. He may also schedule teaching conferences as part of this job as well as continue to see patients and perform surgeries.