Hello, I am an entering MS3 with an interest in Neurology, among other fields, since right now I find a wide variety of topics in medicine interesting. What I do find is a constant though, is that I really would like to teach. I would like to teach not only in a clinical setting, but in a classroom setting as well (although not full time, obviously). My father has been a professor forever, since before I was born, and I have grown in that sort of academic/university teaching environment. However, I am somewhat at a crossroads, since I don't like research; my experiences in undergrad with research in molecular plant biology was not the most positive, and it has sort of soured up the experience for me. I've very little interest in it.
I guess I am wondering if becoming a teacher at a medical school or university would be completely impossible unless I sold my soul and did research? I like neurology in that it is a very "academic" field of medicine, in the sense that the brain is the "final frontier" at the moment, and I think it's a flexible field that would allow me to not only be a clinician, but an educator as well.
I'd also like to ask a bit about the specialty as a whole, while I'm here. What diseases/complaints do you guys most commonly get/see during an average day or week?
Procedures in the field I am aware are low; but regardless how many of them do you guys usually do?
Do you find that the work hours in the field are fair?
Do you get a good variety of cases and is it intellectually stimulating?
How easy/feasible is it to set a private practice, and if you do, do you still get to see interesting cases, or does it become dull (I.E. only alzheimer, parkinson, headaches)
I also have an interest in the neuro-MSK stuff. Do you guys get to see a lot of it or do a lot of it, or is that mostly just PMR's turf?
How are you guys usually treated in residency? How is it like?
Before the obligated income question, I feel like I should elaborate a bit about myself. I am puertorican, and I study medicine in Puerto Rico, at the state's school, so I am not an IMG. Due to circumstances that have worked incredibly in my favor, I finish school with below 40k in debt. So taking that into account, I don't have the massive loans some of you guys have to deal with (which I agree are ridiculous).
Taken that into consideration, I've seen the consensus here is that neurologists earn around 180-200k a year, how much of a "hit" would I take from having an active teaching role? Am I right in assuming since I have little debt I will still have a decent lifestyle doing so?
As far as competitiveness as an applicant: I passed the step with a low 220's score, not stellar, just a few points above average. I only have my few years of undergrad research on me, should I bite the bullet and try to get some neuro related research before application? What are other ways I could strengthen my application besides doing well on my clinical rotations this next year?
I am aware that these are a lot of questions and some of them are rather complicated to answer. I also apologize if some of them have already been answered. I also appreciate you guys' input and time replying to this post, as I know a lot of you are very busy. Once again, thank you all for your time reading/answering the post.
I guess I am wondering if becoming a teacher at a medical school or university would be completely impossible unless I sold my soul and did research? I like neurology in that it is a very "academic" field of medicine, in the sense that the brain is the "final frontier" at the moment, and I think it's a flexible field that would allow me to not only be a clinician, but an educator as well.
I'd also like to ask a bit about the specialty as a whole, while I'm here. What diseases/complaints do you guys most commonly get/see during an average day or week?
Procedures in the field I am aware are low; but regardless how many of them do you guys usually do?
Do you find that the work hours in the field are fair?
Do you get a good variety of cases and is it intellectually stimulating?
How easy/feasible is it to set a private practice, and if you do, do you still get to see interesting cases, or does it become dull (I.E. only alzheimer, parkinson, headaches)
I also have an interest in the neuro-MSK stuff. Do you guys get to see a lot of it or do a lot of it, or is that mostly just PMR's turf?
How are you guys usually treated in residency? How is it like?
Before the obligated income question, I feel like I should elaborate a bit about myself. I am puertorican, and I study medicine in Puerto Rico, at the state's school, so I am not an IMG. Due to circumstances that have worked incredibly in my favor, I finish school with below 40k in debt. So taking that into account, I don't have the massive loans some of you guys have to deal with (which I agree are ridiculous).
Taken that into consideration, I've seen the consensus here is that neurologists earn around 180-200k a year, how much of a "hit" would I take from having an active teaching role? Am I right in assuming since I have little debt I will still have a decent lifestyle doing so?
As far as competitiveness as an applicant: I passed the step with a low 220's score, not stellar, just a few points above average. I only have my few years of undergrad research on me, should I bite the bullet and try to get some neuro related research before application? What are other ways I could strengthen my application besides doing well on my clinical rotations this next year?
I am aware that these are a lot of questions and some of them are rather complicated to answer. I also apologize if some of them have already been answered. I also appreciate you guys' input and time replying to this post, as I know a lot of you are very busy. Once again, thank you all for your time reading/answering the post.
