Black Intelligentsia Libraries
The New Way Of Thinking
Neurosurgeon
The nervous system controls ALL voluntary and involuntary functions of the human body, which proves just how vital it is for life. And the brain, the very mysterious "control center" of the nervous system, offers as many challenges today as it did in ancient times when it comes to unlocking its secrets. If you embrace immense challenges, are exceptionally gifted in Science, Math, and Health, possess great dexterity, and if you yourself have "nerves of steel," then you should accept the challenge of becoming a Neurosurgeon.
Neurological Surgeons (Neurosurgeons/"brain surgeons") examine, diagnose, and surgically treat injuries and disorders of the nervous system (brain, spine, and peripheral nerves), including back surgeries, removing brain tumors, and other specialized neurological procedures. They perform surgery on the nervous system (as well as their supporting blood vessels and skeletal structures) to remove tumors, relieve chronic pain, and treat wounds, vascular disorders, and diseases. Medical conditions treated by Neurosurgeons include: trauma to the head, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves; brain and spinal cord tumors; peripheral neuropathy (diseases of the peripheral nerves—face, arms, legs, hands, and feet); spinal disc herniation; cerebrovascular disorders (brain aneurysms and clogged arteries in the neck that can lead to strokes); cerebral hemorrhages; chronic low back pain; and birth defects.
The duties of a Neurosurgeon include but are not limited to: interpreting results of diagnostic tests (magnetic resonance imaging, CT scans, PET scans, etc.) to diagnose patients; operating on the brain to relieve pressure in an intra-cranial hemorrhage; operating on the spine to free entrapped nerves, to correct deformity, or to restore spinal stability; extracting brain tumors, repairing spinal cord and back injuries, and correcting skull and peripheral nerve damage; performing surgery to relieve hydrocephalus (abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain), correct diseases of the spinal cord (degenerative spine disorder and scoliosis), and treat acute illnesses (strokes, aneurysms, etc.) and chronic neurological and neuro-muscular conditions (epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, etc.); overseeing and coordinating the efforts of large teams of Surgeons and Nurses in the operating theater; prescribing medication to relieve pain, improve speech and memory, and strengthen basic motor skills; keeping up with new discoveries by reading medical journals and attending academic conferences; and conducting research and teaching at universities.
High school students interested in eventually becoming a Neurosurgeon benefit from taking Nursing, Nutrition, Health, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, Biology/Anatomy, Physics, Chemistry, and Physical Science. Students entering Pre-Medical Bachelor's of Science programs with no previous surgical training should expect a period of 4 years to complete said program. Neurosurgeons must graduate from an accredited medical school, complete a 6-to-7-year Neurosurgical residency, and pass written and practical exams. In the final two years of medical school, students work with patients under the supervision of experienced Surgeons in hospitals (clinicals). To qualify for licensure, all Surgeons must pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), and years later, pass the American Board of Neurological Surgery Certification Examination. All states require Neurosurgeons to be licensed.
Some Neurosurgeons practice General Neurosurgery, while others choose to limit their practice to specific sub-specialties: Pediatric Neurosurgery (children), Neuro-Oncology (cancerous disorders of the nervous system), Neurovascular/Endovascular (stroke and cerebral disorders), Radiosurgery (treating brain and spinal tumors through use of radiation), spine, peripheral nerve, functional, and skull base. They work closely with Psychiatrists, Neurologists, counselors, and therapists to provide comprehensive care for patients suffering from neurological disorders or damage to the brain and nervous system. The majority of Neurosurgeons maintain private practices, often with academic affiliations.
Due to advances in medical science, the aging baby-boomers, the overall population growth, and the proliferation of neuropathic disorders (Alzheimer's, MS, etc.), employment of Neurosurgeons is expected to grow 24 percent over the next decade. Job prospects should be particularly good for those willing to practice in rural, low-income, and other under-served areas, as these areas tend to have difficulty attracting Surgeons.
Job Description
Median Salary & Range
Median Salary: $497,220
Salary Range: ~$296,920 - $736,380+
College Majors & Attainment Routes
The normal routes to becoming a Neurosurgeon have been to attain a Bachelor's of Science degree in Pre-Medical, Microbiology, Biology or Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Physiology or Physiology Sciences, Anatomy, Chemistry (Pre-Medical or Pre-Professional concentration), Physics (Pre-Medical concentration), Biomedical Sciences, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Sciences, Pre-Professional Education, or Engineering Physics.
Neurosurgeons complete 4 years of undergraduate studies, 4 years of medical school, and 6 to 7 years of Neurosurgical residency. Medical school applicants must have at least a Bachelor's degree and must submit transcripts, Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score, and letters of recommendation. While a specific major is not required, all students must complete undergraduate work in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. High school and undergraduate students often volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain valuable experience in a healthcare setting and to build mentor/mentee relationships with established Neurosurgeons.
Colleges That Provide Above Majors
Colleges and universities that have Medical/Surgery Schools and related majors are: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (Los Angeles, California); Meharry Medical College (Nashville, Tennessee); Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware); Howard University (Washington, DC); Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Virginia); Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, North Carolina); Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, North Carolina); North Carolina Central University (Durham, North Carolina); North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, North Carolina); Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia); Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia); Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina); Winston Salem State University (Winston Salem, North Carolina); Albany State University (Albany, Georgia); South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Savannah State University (Savannah, Georgia); Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia); Claflin University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Allen University (Columbia, South Carolina); Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, Georgia); Paine College (Augusta, Georgia); Livingstone College (Salisbury, North Carolina); Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi); Benedict College (Columbia, South Carolina); Huston-Tillotson University (Austin, Texas); Voorhees College (Denmark, South Carolina); Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia); and Oakwood College (Huntsville, Alabama).
Available Scholarships
