Advertisement
Advertisement
|
Home :: Career Center
:: Healthcare Career Profiles :: Physician Career Profiles
Neurologist - Career Profile |
Career OverviewA person’s nervous system is made of the spinal cord, brain and central nerves. When the central nerves malfunction, various disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, meningitis and epilepsy attack the human body. These disorders gradually destroy the brain.
A neurologist is a physician who not only diagnoses but also treats disorders of a patient’s nervous system. A neurologist is either the main care provider or the person that the other physicians send their patients to, who need consulting or a neurology specialist. Patients with disorders like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s may have a neurologist as their main physician.
A neurologist also works as a consultant in diagnosing and treating a neurological disorder and then advises the patient’s primary care physician. One example is when a patient has a stroke. The neurologist treats the patient and then they work with the general physician in recommending continuing care
Neurologists do not perform surgery themselves but do recommend surgical treatment when necessary. If a patient has a brain tumor, the neurologist recommends a neurosurgeon and the neurosurgeon performs the operation, as they specialize in surgery on the nervous system and brain.
Some of the clinical disorders of the brain, nervous system, nerves, spinal cord and muscles that a neurologist treats are:
- Nervous system
- Strokes
- Sleep disorders
- Peripheral nerve disorders
- Headaches
- Multiple sclerosis
- Strokes
- Muscular dystrophy
- Brain tumors
- Epilepsy
- Spinal cord and brain injuries
- Tumors
Neurologists examine and test a patient’s vision, coordination, sensation, strength and reflexes along with speech, language and memory in order to help determine if the patient’s problem is in their nervous system. They also use other tests such as a CAT scan, EEG and MRI to diagnose their patients.
|
Career RequirementsTo become a neurologist requires a Bachelor of Science degree, four years of medical school and two years internship. After graduation, they require another two or three years of specialized residency training.
|
Advertisement
|
Job OutlookThe job outlook for neurologists looks extremely promising, as there is a shortage of experienced neurologists. With the population continuing to increase and the average age also increasing, they expect the demand for medical professionals to continue to grow through 2014.
With all the new technologies available, it is far faster to diagnose people with neurological problems and for them to receive the medical help they need. As many neurologists, that are baby boomers retire, they require more neurologists to take their places.
|
Career TrackA neurologist may choose to further their education and training to pursue a career as a neurosurgeon, a medical school advisor, a director of research or begin to teach.
Some neurologists choose to become medical school administrators or head up research teams for pharmaceutical companies. There are many options for advancement available to neurologists such as going into private practice or working in private clinics.
|
CompensationThe employer’s size, location, years of experience and employee credentials often affects the annual salary of a neurologist. Their yearly salary ranges from approximately $179,800 to approximately $252,000.
|
|