WHAT THE BLEEP?
Neurology is such a clinically dominant speciality and suits those determined thinkers who can weigh up information and target tests to explain a patient's symptoms. With improved imaging and other types of tests, including genetic testing the future of Neurology is getting exciting. Available treatments are broadening too, with improvements in existing therapy, as well as new treatments.
PERSONALITY
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Empathetic
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Excellent clinical and communication skills
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Enjoy clinical and academic challenges
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Methodical
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Good memory
AVERAGE WEEK
Time is spent between outpatient clinics, ward rounds and seeing ward referrals. Neurologists will also tend to spend time dealing with correspondence relating to patients they have previously seen. Most Neurologists will have half a day academic regional meeting each week with other Neurological specialists. Working normal office hours with modest on-call responsibilities.
BEST BITS
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Seeing a patient, making sense of and solving the clinical problem and providing a treatment and solution for the patient is very rewarding.
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Constant intellectual stimulation.
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On-call at home and only disturbed for advice
CHALLENGES
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Despite advances in treatment, there are still many neurological progressive conditions which there are limited disease modifying treatments available.
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Often due to the sudden, silent nature of many neurological conditions there are inappropriate patient expectations which have to be addressed.
WHAT THE FACT?
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Sir Roger Bannister the first man to run a mile in under 4 minutes was also a Neurologist. When asked whether the 4-minute mile was his proudest achievement, he said he felt prouder of his contribution to academic medicine through research into the responses of the nervous system. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011.
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Jean-Martin Charcot, a French neurologist known as the founder of modern neurology has his name associated with over 15 medical eponyms. Including Charcot-Marie-Tooth, Charcot's disease, Charcot-Bouchard aneurysms and Charcot's triad (two different Charcot's triads - one for signs of MS, and one for the signs of acute cholangitis).