A neurologist is a physician who specializes in the treatment of disorders of the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and some muscles. Neurologists are not to be confused with neurosurgeons, who have completed specialized training to operate on the nervous system. On complex cases, neurologists and neurosurgeons may collaborate, with the neurologist referring a patient to a neurosurgeon for surgical treatment and surgeons recommending that their patients follow up with a neurologist for follow-up appointments and long-term care after a successful surgery.
To become a neurologist, one must first complete a four-year undergraduate degree, then pursue a medical degree, which requires another four years of study, and finally complete a neurology internship. For someone who wants to be a pediatric neurologist, the neurology internship takes four years and requires an initial year of internal medicine or pediatrics. A neurologist must complete 12 years of schooling in total, and after completing his or her internship, he or she may pursue a fellowship to gain additional training.
Neurologists can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals and clinics. They deal with a variety of neurological emergencies, as well as congenital problems and chronic illnesses. Patients who are at risk for nervous system damage may be evaluated by a neurologist as part of their routine examination, such as when a patient is thrown by a horse and requires medical attention. Some neurologists choose to specialize in specific areas of interest, such as inherited neurological diseases, and they may also work as researchers in addition to being doctors, as in the case of a neurologist who oversees studies on multiple sclerosis.
Although some neurologists may be on call to deal with emergent neurological problems in emergency rooms, which can necessitate attending to patient needs at odd hours, neurologists’ hours tend to be very regular because they can set specific office or clinic hours. These doctors can earn a lot of money because of their years of specialized training and the wide range of diagnostic and treatment options they have.
Pediatric neurology is a subspecialty of neurology that focuses on the treatment of children with neurological disorders. A pediatric neurologist may work as a consultant at a children’s hospital, a neurological clinic, or a general hospital when pediatric patients with neurological conditions are brought in. Work in this field can be particularly interesting because children’s nervous systems are still developing and growing, which can lead to some fascinating clinical situations and medical issues.