Sriharika Gottipolu

ISM-4A
9/3/15
Career Forecast for Neurology
Neurologists have many options regarding what they want to pursue once they
complete their degree and training. They can work in hospitals, clinics or universities. They can
treat patients, conduct research, or teach students. Their main area of expertise is the diagnosis
and treatment of many neurological disorders. They can order and interpret diagnostic tests to
determine the treatment plan for each individual patient. If they are taking part in research,
they can participate in clinical studies, write scholarly articles for medical journals, or give
presentations at professional meeting or to students.
Like other aspiring specialists and physicians, neurologists must complete an
undergraduate degree in order to go to medical school. Usually, people who finish with a
bachelors degree in either biology, chemistry, or physics will be better prepared for medical
school, but a science major is not necessary. After college, neurologists must attend a a medical
school recognized by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), and then pass the
United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). After that, the doctor must complete
residency in neurology, which is approximately three to four years. The residency portion will
encompass rotations in related specialities and subspecialities, including behavioral neurology,
multiple sclerosis, and child neurology. After residency, doctors are able to take part in clinical
fellowship programs, such as epilepsy and neuroscience. Although its not required, many
employers prefer that the neurologists be board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry
and Neurology (ABPN), which also makes them appear more credible to patients.
As far as recommended high school courses to pursue neurology in the future,
biochemistry, anatomy, and calculus are recommended because they are used very heavily in
this career, and its very important to have a good foundation in these courses. These courses
are also recommended prerequisites for any pre-medical program in college. There are also
some pre-med summer programs available from some colleges that allow individuals to gain
more practical experience in the field. For college or Post High School Programs, there are some
pre-med tracks available in universities that help students take the necessary courses and major
to be successful to pass the MCAT, and eventually do well in medical school.
There are many organizations available for neurologists to take part in and join across
the nation. One such organization, that many neurologists are part of is the American Academy
of Neurology (AAN). Another is the American Neurological Association (ANA).Both of these
organizations however, are located up north in Minnesota. As far as local organizations go, the
Texas Neurological Society is quite a large one. It has annual, as well as summer conferences.
Another large professional organization is the Texas Association of Neurological Surgeons. They

also host numerous conferences annually. Both of these organizations have multiple locations
for conferences to make it easier for doctors to attend locally.
Since neurology isnt the best fit for everyone, there are numerous career options
available for anyone who is interested in this subject. Besides the clinical area, there are many
options available in the research and teaching departments. These jobs are equally as important
and may be better suited for someone who doesnt like treating and diagnosing the patients.
Other than that, there also jobs available in the psychology department. Because studying the
brain is one of the main components in both professions, jobs involving psychology could
become potential career options. Within psychology, there is also psychiatry which is the more
clinical side of psychology, and also something that people interested in neurology may prefer,
because it has more medicinal and patient interaction.
Neurologists are considered to be one of the most top earning professionals across the
nation. They are expected to make an average salary of $
182,410 when working in a hospital or
clinical setting. Because it is a highly coveted job, even right out of college, neurologists can
make approximately $170,000. But as experience grows, patients are more likely to see the
doctor as more credible and create a larger patient base, and as a result the doctor will make
even more money. Even in the future, the salaries for neurologists is projected to increase
approximately 18%, and potentially more so further down the future.
Employment opportunities are expected to increase in the future for neurologists. There
are going to be new advancements in technology and also an increase in population across the
nation. As a result of this increase, more doctors are going to be more necessary to take care of
the aging population, as well as the younger generation. This will be happening across the global
stage, so doctors will have opportunities no matter which country they live in.
In order to become a neurologist, or any doctor really, knowing terminology is a must.
For neurologists, much of the terms are associated with the brain and nervous system because
thats what they specialize in. Despite knowing terms from a focused body system, neurologists
often have to learn the most extensive vocabulary because of the brains ever changing
behavior. This is an integral step in the process to become a doctor.

Terminology:
aneurysm
: An aneurysm is an abnormality of a blood vessel. It is a weakening of the wall
of an artery that leads to a progressive ballooning out of the wall, forming a sac filled
with blood. Aneurysms can occur in many arteries throughout the body but ones that
occur in the head in the blood vessels that supply the brain are called cerebral
aneurysms. They can rupture and lead to subarachnoid hemorrhage.
aneurysm coiling
: A relatively new treatment for cerebral aneurysms, coiling uses small
metal coils to fill the aneurysm from the inside, rather than clipping it from the outside.
The goal is to fill the aneurysm as completely as possible so that it can clot off and no
blood can continue to enter the aneurysm, preventing rupture.
aneurysm clipping
: One of the treatment options for a cerebral aneurysm is called
surgical clipping. This is a procedure which is performed through an opening in the skull,
a craniotomy. The aneurysm is exposed and then the base of it is clipped with a small
metal clip called an aneurysm clip. This prevents blood from getting into the aneurysm so
that it cannot rupture in the future.
Arnold Chiari malformation
: Sometimes just called Chiari malformation, this is a
malformation of the base of the brain and skull where the brain stem exits the skull to
become the spinal cord.For more information, see our Arnold Chiari Malformation
Section.
brain stem
: The brain stem is the lower and more primitive part of the brain. It is made
up of three parts, from top to bottom, the midbrain, the pons and the medulla oblongata.
The brain stem is very important for basic alertness and the level of consciousness. It can
also have profound effects on many other neurological functions, including normal
breathing.
central nervous system
: The central nervous system, or cns, refers to the brain, brain
stem and spinal cord. It is distinct from the peripheral nervous system which includes all
the peripheral nerves which go in and out of the central nervous system.
cerebellum
: The cerebellum (or "little brain") is a part of the brain which lies just behind
the brain stem. It is important for motor coordination. Damage to the cerebellum can
lead to imbalance, clumsiness and problems with gait, among other neurological
symptoms.
cerebrospinal fluid
: Cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, is the water-like fluid that is within the
brain, in chambers called the ventricles, as well as surrounding the brain and spinal cord
in an area called the subarachnoid space.
cerebrum
: It refers to the forebrain, the most advanced part of the brain which primarily
includes the two cerebral hemispheres.

 congenital
: A congenital condition is one which a patient is born with. It does not
necessarily imply a genetic or hereditary cause, simply one that began before birth and
the individual has had since the time of birth.
craniectomy
: A craniectomy is a medical term referring to a surgical opening of the skull.
In a craniectomy the bone is left out, leaving an opening in the skull. A craniectomy is
performed for various reasons, usually to decompress the structures contained within
the bone.
craniotomy
: A craniotomy is a medical term referring to a surgical opening of the skull.
This is performed frequently in neurosurgical operations to achieve access to the brain
and other structures within the head.
CSF
: an abbreviation for cerebrospinal fluid
decompression
: Decompression is a general medical term that is often used in surgical
procedures which aim to decrease the pressure on a certain area of the nervous system.
epilepsy
: This is the medical term for a condition of recurrent seizures. There are many
causes which can lead to epilepsy in an individual, including brain tumors,
cerebrovascular malformations, trauma, and congenital malformations of the nervous
system.
gray matter
: The gray matter of the brain and spinal cord is tissue which is mostly
composed of nerve cell bodies. These are the areas where the nerve cells actually reside.
These areas are often called a nucleus or nuclei if it occurs within the brain, brain stem or
spinal cord.
hematoma
: A hematoma is a collection of blood. It can occur due to spontaneous
bleeding, such as from the rupture of an arteriovenous malformation, or due to
traumatic brain injury, such as an epidural hematoma or a subdural hematoma.
hemorrhage
: Hemorrhage is a general medical term for bleeding. Bleeding into a
confined space can lead to a collection of blood called a hematoma. It can also lead to
bleeding into an area such as the cerebrospinal fluid, known as subarachnoid
hemorrhage.
hydrocephalus
: Hydrocephalus is a general medical term for the spectrum of disorders
that are due to an abnormality in the normal dynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in
and around the brain and spinal cord. There are several causes and sub-types of
hydrocephalus but in general these disorders lead to an accumulation of CSF in the head
which increases the pressure on the brain and can lead to neurological damage and
symptoms.
ICP
: ICP is an abbreviation from intracrantial pressure
infarction
: An infarction is the death of tissue due to inadequate blood flow (ischemia) to
the tissue.

 intracranial
: Intracranial is a general medical term that means "within the cranium" or
"within the head". It is used to identify diseases of the brain and other areas within the
skull.
intracranial pressure
: The intracranial pressure, or ICP, is the pressure inside the skull.
This is one of the medical terms heard often in the treatment of patients with head
trauma.
ischemia
: Ischemia is the lack of adequate blood flow to support the normal functioning
of a tissue such as the brain. As the tissue becomes ischemic, it does not function
normally and can lead to neurological symptoms. If the ischemia is severe enough or
prolonged enough it can lead to permanent damage to the brain tissue which is termed
infarction
lesion
: Lesion is one of the general medical terms for an abnormality in the body. Several
pathologies can be called a lesion, such as a hematoma, a brain tumor or a cerebral
infarction.
mass
: A mass is any lesion which takes up space in the head. Generally, a mass can cause
symptoms by compressing the normal structures to which it is adjacent. Mass does not
imply that a lesion is cancer, a tumor or anything else specific, it just refers to a mass that
takes up space in the head.
nerve
: A nerve is a collection of nerve fibers. Each of the nerve fibers within a nerve are
tiny extensions of neurons (the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord) which carry
electrical impulses down them at very fast speeds. The nerves going from the central
nervous system include nerves that control some function of the body, such as
increasing or decreasing heart rate or telling a muscle to contract. Nerves coming back
into the central nervous system are typically carrying some sensory information from
the environment, including touch sensation, hearing, taste.
neurologist
: A neurologist is a medical specialist who specializes in diseases of the
nervous system. The neurologist focuses on the medical treatment of these diseases
since they are not trained in surgery.
neurosurgeon
: Also known as a brain surgeon or neurological surgeon, is a surgeon
trained specifically to treat disorders of the nervous system. This can include everything
from intracranial diseases to diseases of the spine. However, many neurosurgeons
sub-specialize in one or more area of neurosurgery such as epilepsy, traumatic brain
injury, spinal disease, brain tumors, pediatric neurosurgery, movement disorders (such
as Parkinson's Disease) or cerebrovascular diseases(diseases of the blood vessels).
peripheral nervous system
: The peripheral nervous system includes all parts of the
nervous system that is external to the central nervous system . In general this includes all
the nerves going to and coming from the central nervous system, including the
autonomic nerves and ganglia which control autonomic functions in the body.

 seizure
: A seizure is a sudden occurrence of abnormal, uncontrolled electrical activity in
the brain. There are many causes of seizures and they can cause various sensory
disturbances, loss or alteration of consciousness, convulsions and other symptoms
depending on the type and location in the brain. A condition of recurring seizures is
called epilepsy.
spasm
: Spasm is a general medical term for a sudden involuntary muscle movement.
spinal cord
: The spinal cord is the long extension of the central nervous system which
occupies the spinal canal in the spine. The bony spine and the ligaments, muscles and
other soft tissues that surround it all help protect the spinal cord. The cord carries
information up to the brain and down from the brain to the periphery. It also contains
the motor neurons (nerve cells) which send out fibers to all muscles to control their
movement.
stroke
: Stroke is a general term for the sudden onset of neurological symptoms. While
stroke can be used in this general way to refer to various diseases including spontaneous
hemorrhage, most commonly it is used to refer to an ischemic stroke or cerebral
infarction. This type of stroke is most commonly caused by a blood clot which obstructs
the normal flow of blood in one of the arteries that supplies blood to the brain. This
interruption in blood flow can lead to injury and death of the brain tissue which is
supplied by that artery.
tumor
: Tumor is one of the general medical terms which refers to any mass. However,
for the most part the term is used to describe a group of abnormal cells which grows due
to the uncontrolled growth of the cells.
ventriculostomy
: A ventriculostomy is a catheter which is placed within the ventricles .
It can be used to drain cerebrospinal fluid to decrease the pressure within the head. It
can also be hooked up to a monitor to record the intracranial pressure.
white matter
: The white matter is the tissue in the brain and spinal cord which is made
up mostly of nerve fibers (the axons) which carry electrical impulses from one part of the
nervous system to another. White matter contains few actual cell bodies, as opposed to
gray matter where the cell bodies reside.

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