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What is a Brain Surgeon?

Haven Esme
Haven Esme

The brain is one of the most important organs in the body and gives humans the capacity for language, art, and rational thought. A brain surgeon, or neurosurgeon, is a doctor that performs surgery on the nervous system, particularly the brain. He or she will also treat a wide range of problems affecting the central nervous system is the job of a brain surgeon.

Because the brain is often considered the most important organ in the brain, it is vital that professionals who deal with this organ have extensive education. There is steep competition when gaining entry into medical school. For this reason, many brain surgeons are educated at top universities. During their education, brain surgeons must excel at biology, chemistry and mathematics.

A scalpel.
A scalpel.

A brain surgeon must study for a minimum of fourteen years before he or she is actually allowed to perform surgery on a patient. The extensive schooling consists of four years of pre-medical study, and four additional years are spent studying for a medical degree. Once the medical degree is obtained, doctors are required to undergo six years of residency.

A brain surgeon operates on the brain.
A brain surgeon operates on the brain.

Many prospective brain surgeons take on an additional two-year masters degree once their residency is complete. Others may follow their residency with a subspecialty fellowship. It is not uncommon for a brain surgeon to have twenty years of post-secondary education.

Once all educational requirements are complete, a brain surgeon must become board certified in neurosurgery. This involves taking a rigorous professional examination. They must also be able to pass a licensing exam in their jurisdiction to legally practice as a surgeon.

Brain surgeons perform very delicate technical tasks, which requires a high level of stamina and dexterity.
Brain surgeons perform very delicate technical tasks, which requires a high level of stamina and dexterity.

Brain surgeons have a job that is physically and mentally demanding. In addition to putting in long hours mentally, the job is also physically strenuous. Brain surgeons are required to put in long hours in the operating room and must have the ability to stand completely still for hours. They must perform very delicate technical tasks and this requires a high level of stamina and dexterity. For this reason, it is essential that brain surgeons keep in good physical shape.

Because the brain must be opened and exposed, any type of brain surgery carries an inherent risk of infection or other damage.
Because the brain must be opened and exposed, any type of brain surgery carries an inherent risk of infection or other damage.

Doctors who are able to perform surgery on the brain have one of the most highly paid and prestigious professions around. For some, becoming a brain surgeon is considered a dream because of the high salary that accompanies the position. The surgeons are able to perform life-changing results for patients such as helping individuals that were formerly paralyzed.

There are many risks involved in brain surgery. Some of the most common complications that could arise from brain surgery include infections, brain damage, paralysis, or even death. Fifty years ago, half of all brain surgeries were fatal. Today, less than ten percent of brain surgeries result in death.

Discussion Comments

anon289884

Any other career would always require a certain requirement to be a certified professional. A brain surgeon's education requirements will take more or less 14 years in completing all the necessary training and requirements.

anon278352

I didn't realize it would take 14 years to become a brain surgeon. It's just one of the brain surgeon education requirements. No wonder it's one of the highest paying jobs in the world. Being a surgeon alone is not easy. What about a brain surgeon?

They save the lives of people who are in critical condition. Like they say, the brain is one of the most important organs in the body and gives humans the capacity for language, art and rational thought.

claire24

How interesting -- I never thought of physical fitness as being part of a brain surgeon job description, but it makes total sense.

I've heard of brain surgeries that take hours and hours. I've had to be on my feet all day long before, but I can't even imagine having to do it while staying in basically the same position, hardly moving at all.

If I ever need brain surgery, I'm going to find a surgeon who looks like he or she is in good shape!

roxytalks

I would never be able to be a brain surgeon. That kind of responsibility is way more than I ever want to deal with -- even with the statistics of survival from brain surgery being so much better than they used to be, which means we have learned a significant amount.

I just can't imagine a person's brain being my responsibility.

calpat

I would love to be able to help people the way a brain surgeon does. A brain surgeon's salary is definitely a benefit of the job, but I think even that pales in comparison to actually being able to fix someone's brain.

There is nothing better than being able to save a life!

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    • A scalpel.
      By: ittipol
      A scalpel.
    • A brain surgeon operates on the brain.
      By: Antonio Gravante
      A brain surgeon operates on the brain.
    • Brain surgeons perform very delicate technical tasks, which requires a high level of stamina and dexterity.
      By: fivepointsix
      Brain surgeons perform very delicate technical tasks, which requires a high level of stamina and dexterity.
    • Because the brain must be opened and exposed, any type of brain surgery carries an inherent risk of infection or other damage.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Because the brain must be opened and exposed, any type of brain surgery carries an inherent risk of infection or other damage.