Neurosurgery/Med School Questions
Hi,
I'm very confused on the requirements to become a neurosurgeon and other related topics. Below are a few questions I have. It's fine if you can't answer all of them; just answering one will already be a big help! :)
1) Neurosurgeons need to complete 1 year of general surgery + 6-8 years of neurosurgery residency. Does the PGY-1 year of neurosurgery residency fulfill the 1 year general surgery requirement?
2) When I go to med school, should I take an MD program (4-5 yrs) or an MD/PhD (MSTP) program (7-8 yrs) if I intend to be a neurosurgeon? Are the extra years worth the PhD?
3) Do I need to have a fellowship to practice neurosurgery or is that optional?
Thanks in advance for all your help!
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1 answer
1. Yes, the PGY-1 year will fulfill a 1-year general/intern surgery requirement.
2. The MD program will be a better fit if you are interested in operating on patients. An MSTP is meant for those who are preparing for research-focused careers in neuroscience.
3. Fellowships tend to be optional, but strongly encouraged for certain niches. They are usually built into neurosurgery programs.
Hope this helps!
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