An Open Frontier

How to become a neurosurgeon

Neurosurgeons are not necessarily smarter or more dexterous than physicians in other demanding surgical specialties.

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The dismissive remark “It’s not brain surgery” for uncomplicated tasks reveals the common perception that neurosurgeons have preternatural intelligence and skills.

While they do need to be very bright and have great hands, neurosurgeons are not necessarily smarter or more dexterous than physicians in other demanding surgical specialties, those in the field insist. In fact, misconceptions about neurosurgery scare away some medical students who might excel in the specialty while enticing others to pursue it for the wrong reasons.

“If you think you might be interested in neurosurgery, you shouldn’t shy away from learning more about it because you feel your grades aren’t good enough,” says Oklahoma City neurosurgeon Dawn R. Tartaglione, DO, who serves on the governing board of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. “You’d be surprised at just whom this specialty suits.”

At the same time, those who are drawn to neurosurgery’s perceived prestige are in for a rude awakening, says Kailish Narayan, MD, the program director of the AOA-approved neurosurgical residency at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

“Some people say they want to do neurosurgery, but they don’t really know what it is,” Dr. Narayan says. “For example, they may see the glamour part and think it would be pretty cool to be a brain surgeon, not realizing that the majority of neurosurgeons do mostly spine surgeries.”

Neurosurgery requires physicians who have a special combination of traits, according to Dr. Narayan. Most surgeons are results-oriented individuals who like to fix patients’ problems. Neurosurgeons, though, must be able to take satisfaction from small improvements.

“It’s a peculiar field. What makes neurosurgeons happy would be considered poor outcomes in most other specialties,” Dr. Narayan notes. “That’s just the limitation of what we’re dealing with. The brain and the spine are unforgiving, and they have very little power to recuperate or heal.”

Although they frequently prolong patients’ lives, alleviate pain and enhance function, neurosurgeons rarely cure.

“A lot of our patients are very sick,” Dr. Narayan says. “A lot of them die or are paralyzed. This is the dark side, if you will, of neurosurgery that some students don’t really recognize or appreciate.”

Neurosurgeons, thus, often break bad news and need tremendous empathy and interpersonal skills as they manage the expectations of patients and their families through emotionally trying ordeals.

Specialists in neurosurgery also need extraordinary drive, residency directors say. The 10 AOA-approved neurological surgery residencies are now seven years in length, as are the 103 neurosurgical residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). On top of lengthy training, practicing neurosurgeons have long, unreliable hours and are frequently called in to do emergency procedures.

“It’s a very unpredictable job,” Dr. Tartaglione says. “I’ve cancelled more haircut appointments than I’ve shown up for. And in the past 10 days, there were only three in which I got home before 9:40 p.m. I try to be home by this time, so I can be in bed by 11 p.m.

“Neurosurgeons also take a lot of call. In my group, we’re short a person, so we’re on call 10 days a month.”

Osteopathic medical students who place a premium on balance between their professional and personal lives should steer clear of neurosurgery, advises Louis I. Jacobs, DO, who directs the AOA-approved neurosurgical residency program at Garden City (Mich.) Hospital.

“If you don’t want to work hard and long hours, you shouldn’t go into this specialty,” he says. “There is no work-life balance during residency. Nevertheless, when you’re an attending, you can and should make time for family and friends. In spite of my busy schedule, I never missed my seven children’s school and sports activities. If necessary, I would return to the hospital afterward.

Despite the challenges, neurosurgeons find much to love about their field.

“I like the diversity most of all. Every day is completely different,” says Jason Seibly, DO, who directs the AOA-approved neurosurgical residency at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Ill. “Just this week alone, I’ve taken out a brain tumor, I’ve done a carpal tunnel surgery, I’ve done a surgical spine reconstruction, and I’ve taken out lumbar disc herniations. It’s a vast specialty that is not monotonous by any measure.”

Intrigued by the brain and nervous system since childhood, Dr. Jacobs knew he wanted to become a neurosurgeon by the time he was 8. “My third-grade class went on a field trip to a medical center in Detroit. And it was just fortuituous that we went to the neurosurgery unit,” he remembers. “The residents were good with kids and explained in layman’s terms what they were doing. It was just fascinating. That experience captured me for the rest of my life.”

“What propels us is that neurosurgery is technically very challenging and intellectually very challenging,” adds Dr. Narayan. “In spite of how far we’ve come, there is still so much more to know about the brain and how it functions.”

Rotation, rotation, rotation

Osteopathic medical students interested in a particular field should serve elective rotations at institutions with residency programs in that specialty. But this is especially crucial for students considering neurosurgery, residency directors say.

With only 15 or so openings a year in AOA-approved neurological surgery residencies, the field is highly competitive. And it is even tougher for DOs to get into ACGME-accredited neurosurgical residencies. As a result, potential neurosurgeons need to impress directors of the targeted programs, other attendings and neurosurgical residents before the residency application process begins.

Neurosurgical residencies vary significantly, particularly in the final years, depending on the number of trauma surgeries versus office-based surgeries trainees perform and the subspecialty expertise of a program’s faculty. Consequently, students need to rotate through a number of different sites to gauge which programs hold the most appeal and where they best fit in.

Student doctors should start shadowing neurosurgeons as early as their first or second year, suggests Dr. Seibly. “Students can come here to Advocate BroMenn during their breaks or summer vacation to spend some time with us and check out our program and learn more about neurosurgery before their fourth year, when they have to make more of a commitment,” he says. “What we don’t like to see is a fourth-year student who hasn’t spent much time in neurosurgery get into a program and discover it’s not for them.”

Interested students should try to serve their core rotations and other elective rotations at institutions that have neurosurgical residencies. That way, students may be able to spend some of their free time shadowing neurosurgeons and observing neurological surgeries.

“During a pathology rotation, for example, you won’t be expected to stay until 9 every night,” Dr. Tartaglione says. “So if you have time, ask a neurosurgeon if you can watch a surgery or shadow him or her in the office.”

To increase their shadowing opportunities, premeds who are contemplating a career in this specialty should apply to medical schools affiliated with hospitals that have neurological surgery residency programs.

At Doctors Hospital, Dr. Narayan receives roughly 20 applications a year for two openings. He will consider only candidates who have rotated in his program—for two weeks or four weeks during their third or fourth year.

“During the rotations, students participate in rounds, they scrub in, and some may be interested in lecturing on a topic,” Dr. Narayan says. “They get to see what we have to offer, and we get to see who would be the best fit for our program.”

Dr. Jacobs, who has been training residents for three decades, always requires candidates to have rotated in his program. “This is the only way you can judge somebody’s potential to become a neurosurgeon,” he insists. “You have to see how they react to people and how they look in the operating room.” Over the years, he has developed a knack for discerning who has the hands for neurosurgery, he says.

Neurosurgeons have to be much more than “book smart,” says Dr. Jacobs, who looked at more than 30 applications last year for one opening.

Prospective neurosurgery candidates should do well on the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA), but they don’t need stratospheric scores. In 2011, for example, those who matched into neurosurgery as their first-choice specialty had scores ranging from 491 to 686 on Level 1, according to a report by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). However, the average score of 581 was the second highest among all the specialties.

“Those with the highest scores don’t always make the best neurosurgeons,” Dr. Jacobs contends. “It’s better to have someone who is more well-rounded and can relate to people.

“Neurosurgeons also have to be creative. Each operation you do is like creating a painting. If I weren’t a neurosurgeon, I’d probably be a graphic arts designer. So when students are on rotation, I look for signs of their creativity.”

Dr. Seibly, who receives approximately 30 applications a year for one or two positions, prefers candidates who’ve scored above the 85th percentile on COMLEX-USA. But he rates rotation performance very highly.

“We let students first-assist on nearly every surgery so they’re in there seeing things close up,” he says. “They also help residents evaluate emergencies in the emergency room. We let the students do as much as they are capable of doing. They round on the inpatients. And a couple of days a week, they come to the clinic and see patients independently in the office.”

During these intense rotations, Dr. Seibly doesn’t judge students’ manual dexterity. “We don’t really look at their skills per se because that’s what they will develop during their training years,” he explains. “What we’re really looking for is their ability to take direction, their integrity and their willingness to learn. Initiative, motivation and interpersonal skills are the most important traits we seek.”

Students need to show that they have a bedside manner, Dr. Seibly notes. “Patience and compassion are so important because we probably have the most difficult patients to take care of compared with all other specialties,” he says. “It’s very common for a patient to have a malignant brain tumor and a very short life expectancy, so you’re dealing with end-of-life issues on a daily basis. On the flip side, neurosurgeons do a lot of spine surgery on patients who have chronic pain ailments. These patients can also be demanding and need compassion and understanding.”

Rotations, moreover, allow programs to assess the intelligence of students far better than tests do, according to Dr. Tartaglione. “On a rotation you can see the people who get it,” she says. “If we tell a student to review a complex topic and he or she can converse about it the next day, we can see that this person is intelligent. It doesn’t just have to do with excelling on exams.”

Students on rotation also demonstrate whether they have the stamina for neurosurgery. “It’s physically hard work, and it’s emotionally hard work,” Dr. Narayan says. “We have to get a sense that these students know what they’re getting into.”

Many neurosurgical procedures are only an hour or two in length, but complex operations, such as removing invasive brain tumors, can last 15 hours, notes Dr. Tartaglione. Students with hip problems, bad backs and other physical limitations probably should not select this specialty, she says.

Well-rounded candidates

Besides standing out during their rotations and having good board scores and grades, neurosurgery applicants need to show that they are well-rounded to land interviews.

“Extracurricular activities show that a student has outside interests and, hopefully, can relate to a wider variety of people,” Dr. Tartaglione says.

Participating in research during medical school, not necessarily related to the nervous system, is helpful, she suggests. “It’s good to have your name on some publications to show that you have some interest in didactic work and manuscript writing,” she says. “In residency, you are going to be required to write papers, and you are going to have to do a good job.”

According to AACOM’s report on the 2011 match, 85% of those who matched into neurosurgery as their first-choice specialty had research experience—a higher percentage than any other specialty.

Volunteer work is also beneficial for neurosurgical residency applicants. “The volunteer work doesn’t necessarily have to be medical,” Dr. Tartaglione says. “It’s good for students to get out and see the world, to see how other people live.”

Dr. Jacobs says he values volunteer experience over research. “I’d rather see someone who has done something with people that shows they are a caring person,” he says.

Students should also try to attend the annual clinical assembly of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and sit in on some of the neurosurgical discipline’s continuing medical education classes. This is a great networking opportunity and exposes students to the latest developments in the field, Dr. Tartaglione says.

After winnowing down the residency applicants to those who are known and have desirable credentials, Dr. Jacobs invites a limited number of candidates for formal interviews. “They’re interviewed not only by me and two other neurosurgeons, but also by at least two of the residents,” he says. “Then we sit down and make a decision. And it’s a hard decision.

“Last year, frankly, I didn’t want to train anybody who applied, so I didn’t take a resident. If I don’t find a candidate whom I think is going to succeed, it’s too much of an investment in time for myself, my colleagues and my residents to take someone on. We don’t want to commit ourselves in that way.”

Sometimes neurosurgery candidates act pretentious rather than genuine and try to second-guess what they think their interviewers want to hear, he says.

“The biggest thing people should do when they go into an interview is be themselves and not try to put on airs with the interviewer because arrogance shines through,” Dr. Jacobs says. “We want people who are down to earth, well-rounded and hard workers.”

Some neurosurgical residencies expect candidates to answer questions about neurosurgery to show that they already have basic knowledge of the field. But Dr. Narayan takes a different stance. “I don’t really need to know what they know,” he says. “What I want to know is whether a candidate has the intelligence, integrity and drive to be taught to be a neurosurgeon.”

‘Open frontier’

Osteopathic neurosurgical programs prepare residents to be skilled general neurosurgeons, residency directors say. Program graduates can pursue additional subspecialty training but face restrictions from entering formal accredited fellowships and obtaining subspecialty board certification.

The only accredited subspecialty fellowships are ACGME programs in pediatric neurosurgery, Dr. Tartaglione points out. Because of changes to the ACGME’s common program requirements effective July 2016, these programs will not be able to accept DOs who’ve completed AOA-approved neurosurgery residencies unless the candidates are considered exceptional and meet certain additional criteria.

Career prospects for AOA-trained neurosurgeons are excellent, Dr. Tartaglione says. Although many neurosurgeons today are employed by hospitals or large groups, neurosurgery is a specialty in which it is still possible to thrive in an independent small-group, or even a solo, practice.

“I’ve always been by myself, though I’ve associated loosely with two other neurosurgeons,” Dr. Jacobs says. “We cover each other’s practice. That way, we can take as much time off as we want to.”

Experienced neurosurgeons can make more than $500,000 a year, but the salary range is very wide. Because of the length of training and the personal sacrifices required, earnings potential should not be the main reason for pursuing this specialty, residency directors agree.

Neurosurgeons must have passion for their field and the motivation to keep learning.

“The nervous system is still an open frontier,” Dr. Narayan says. “There is so much about it that we don’t really understand. And we are continuing to learn.

“And every time we get some new insights, old concepts that have held for decades are thrown out and something new starts to be done. We realize that what we thought was the best thing to do 10 years ago is now the worst thing to do.

“I find this aspect of neurosurgery exciting. But the field is not for everyone. It takes a peculiar mindset. It is very, very different from anything else.”

51 comments

  1. Nnebocha mary-jane

    I want to be a neurosurgeon you can help me by educating me more on how to develop my skills as a neurosurgeon

    1. not necessary (my dads 08035991303)

      I encourage you to be your self and focus i too want to be a neurosurgeon and i am trying my best and believing in myself try and get your confidence from someone or something like me i got my inspiration from the first neurosurgeon ever known benkasin i am not sure if you know him but read about him but let us share ideas

      1. Mk Adebisi

        Hello everyone. His name is Ben Carson. Like the article says. Build your integrity and manners. Be down to earth and ready to learn and take corrections for life. Leave social and family for a while but don’t forget them.

  2. Nathan Pardo

    I’m 17 years old, i want to be a Neurosurgeon i wanted that since i was 15 i research so much about it and its fascinating. I think this is for me because i have that ….. i don’t know … that will to study its something that I’m interested in, like without anyone telling me go study medicine or something like… i think i could say its like a hobby. i would also like to learn more ( I’ve watched videos and read many articles about it ) i explored the basics and trying to learn more about it . so if you would please teach me or give me some advise that would be awesome. :D

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  4. Bénédicte Gbenye-Delapame

    Since elemantary school I had an interest in general knowledge. Like astronomy, various types of stones, animals… I learned that especially at school and tried to expand that knowledge at home, on my way. At that time I didn’t know what resources I had to use to learn more about it. Of course there were libraries but I used my imagination, for example I invented a story about how a butterfly comes into existence (I didn’t use the story for the test). But that’s how I learned to study and I enjoyed it.

    A big step for me was high school. New school, new teachers, new classmates. For me, everything was new. I had more subjects and of almost every subject I had an exam in each trimester. And over the years it became harder and harder until I reached the highest mountain in my third year of high school (note: the sarcasm). I couldn’t take it anymore. At the end of the schoolyear my teacher advised me to change options unless I wanted to do the third year over again. I chose for option two, so that later I could make several choices in professions.

    I asked for help to my parents, friends… I had not gotten any help. Maybe because I already had the thing to solve my problem. But I didn’t use it, namely my mind. It stood still for a long time. I told myself to increase my knowledge. Well once I knew how and what resources I needed, I went to the library. I read books about the nature, literature, philosophy, viruses. Now I’m even learning a language by myself, probably because I’m getting a literary education at school. This encouraged me to appreciate my subjects at school and I thought it also unconsciously stimulated the brain to study.

    By reading and doing a lot of research I created an interest especially in the human brain, it’s really complex. It fascinates me because of the unknown things scientists have not discovered. It makes me want to discover those things before them. I know that neurosurgery not only contains the brain. I’m aware of the difficulties, the dark sides. There are many countless challenges to assume when it comes to neurosurgery. You need to be conscientious, while doing the work; accuracy is required.

    I have chosen to enter the profession of neurosurgeon. My parents told me I can do it but that the piano lessons and volleyball training are in the way of my dream. It’s supposed to be hard, if it wasn’t everyone would do it, right?

    What I want are words forming a confirmation, words saying that I’ll be able to achieve my dream and I also need a little support.

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  6. Tarisayi Marangwanda

    im 16 years old and ever since i was 12 ,i’ve always dreamed of being a neurosurgeon and i have to say i’m still interested and would like to know more.

    1. Beukes Vincentina

      I am a 13 year old and I really want to become a neurosurgeon but nobody thinks I am going to become one but I am not going to stop give up that easily.I will prove everybody.I am really interested in it too

  7. Shania Edwards

    I enjoyed this article,neurosurgery is such a broad field and I gained a lot of knowledge from reading this article.

  8. damilola odunlade

    Ever since i was young now im 14 i have always had this drive that i want to become a neurosurgeon .i really dont know why but u always told myseld because my sister has some kind of minor problems with her brain but ow i dont see it as the reason i feel something uncertain but i still feel like being one.i need some kind of directions i am in my final year at high school since i am a Nigerian ,we reaĺly do not have much facilities concerning neurosurgery according to my perspective indian has the best bow my question is what are the pre medical courses i have to do now? do i have to di medicine and surgery four years in Nigeria before going for masters degree doing neurosurgery? Is it possible please i need a reply…

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  10. Eden Wilder

    I am a 14 year old girl who chose the job of a neurosurgeon for a career project. As I did more and more research, the more I became attracted to neurosurgery. The possibility to change someone’s life for the better is amazing. I am quite possibly the smartest student at my school and just want to dream that I have the opportunity of becoming the neurosurgeon. Because of one project, I have now been introduced to, in my eyes, the best occupation one could ever hope to have.

    1. Felice Leavitt

      I am 14 years old too! I took a business class where we had to look into possible career choices. I had already thought that an occupation that had to do with the brain would be interesting so I asked my teacher if she knew of any jobs that she think I might like. She suggested neuropharmacology, neuropsychology, and neurosurgery. I asked my classmates what they thought of these choices and one of my friends brought up how his dad is a neurosurgeon. I asked him if he could tell me a little more about it, and he did. Ever since then I’ve been researching it. The fact that there is so much more to be discovered considering the nervous system intrigues me. I think it’s amazing how neurosurgeons are able to make such an impact on people’s lives. I think it’s even more amazing that I could possibly be one of those individuals who make other people’s lives better. I just wish my high school offered a class on neurosurgery, I don’t think I’ll ever want to stop expanding my knowledge on this occupation.

  11. Stephen Nzyoki

    i am 17 year old and i have been dreaming of being a neurosurgion since from class 8.i was aiming at A but
    when the results were out i found that i got a B- but i was not especting to get that.my question is whether i can do medicine that is neurosurgion with that grade…?

  12. Olatokun Tobiloba

    I am a medical student in a Nigerian university I am really fascinated by the what I hear of Neurosurgery i will really like to know if a Nigerian trained doctor can become a certified Neurosurgeon in the US. I want to what it takes apart from good scores at USMLE exams.
    I will really appreciate if i can get a reply and i like this write up quite a lot.
    Thanks

  13. lair

    I am fascinated by Neurosurgery, not jsust because I love helping people, but the biology of the brain and the peripheral nerves in the body is just amazing to me. I’d love a job where I can study them hands on every day, fixing whats wrong and seeing them in real life.

  14. Lux

    I would love to be a neurosurgeon because you have to use creativity and group work to see how your going to help this person and I love when you save their lives

  15. Moses comfort

    waw,,,, what a great article so inspiring I really aspire to become a Neurosurgeon, nd would crave for more information about neurosurgery, have read through many author s most especially Ben Carson, n it’s really fascinating, and I believe no matter the circumstance am destined to become it, which most surely work by God’s grace, because seriously have not thought of any profession yet. so I must become it, and not just dat I will do it , amen.

  16. Oben Ashu

    Reading this article builds up my interest in becoming a neurosurgeon even more. And I pray that God gives me the ability and strength to be able to persuade my ambitions.

    1. Gavin Estill

      It really pleases me to see such young people interested in neurology and science. I hope you will be able to achieve your dreams!

  17. Igbalajobi David

    I am thirteen years old, and I have always wanted to be a Neurosurgeon. I really appreciate the advice. Thanks a lot. I am going to be a Neurosurgeon by God’s grace. Amen.

  18. ALEXANDER SANCHEZ

    I was a Physician in my previous country Cuba and I always loved Neurosurgery since my first year at the medical school, and I did more than 800 hours shadowing with Neurosurgeons there for 4 years, I even received the Neurosurgeon Student assistant credit at the end of the medical school. I plan to renew my Medical license here in USA ,but unfortunately I don’t think a residency director will accept me as a resident even if I have good scores because I am 45 years old.

  19. christiana

    I am 12 years old and I have always wanted to be a Neurosurgeon. Problem is I am supper good at anatomy but when it comes to anything else in science im not the best. Is that bad?

    1. Maddox Haltom

      Hello, I am 13 years old I have been wanting to be a neurosurgeon for quite some time now. I wanted to know is it brutal being in high-school with AP classes and even so in college? Would I have much time for family and friends? I have good grades as of now but I am worrisome for the future and how things play out. Throughout my experiences I feel I can put enough effort and hard work to become a neurosurgeon, but I am very curious how my life would be if I did go that path and succeeded?

    1. Maddox Haltom

      Although I am only 13 I have done research and they don’t normally travel unless you wanted to help a 3rd world country (a country that is suffering). This would have no pay, but a good deed to the people who need neurosurgery.

  20. Michael Mach

    I am Jada Wani , undergraduate student of Biology and Chemistry_Juba University . At my age of 31 is it possible to do neurosurgery ? .

  21. Irene philip

    I’m Irene Alexander Philip and I’m a nursing student at divine word university. I have always wanted to be a neurosurgeon ever since I was 10 but the problem is the universities in our country does not offer this course. Is it possible for me to get a scholarship to study abroad?

  22. Amanda

    I’m 13years old and since I was 8, I have wanted to become a neurosurgeon. I have researched a few things and this is one of the best and most detailed article I have read. I’m almost done with secondary school i.e I am about to write my jamb and ssce. So, I need some help because I have to apply in some schools. I need some options.can you guys help?

  23. Margaret Chloie Esguerra

    Hi, I’m only a high school student, but being a neurosurgeon is one of my dreams. Like, God gave me purpose in my life to be a neurosurgeon. When I was a kid, I don’t have any dreams/passion. Well, I’m not lazy… I just don’t like what I’m doing right now. Like, I just lost all my motivation. Any tips to be a neurosurgeon like, what course should I take? Also, my grades isn’t really great..

  24. Brian

    Hello am Brian Kimathi from Kenya and am very interested to become a neurosurgeon I n my future life. How many years do it take to become a neurosurgeon??

  25. saula Ruth

    Am a 16 years old girl, since when I was 13 yrs old I read the gifted hands which was written by Ben Carson and the book inspired me alit to be a neurosurgeon
    As a Nigerian girl, people are like don’t go for this go for medicine or you go for optician but all my heart is already in the aspect of neurosurgery
    I really like that aspect of the dark side the spine, really found it interesting especially of the brain
    I noticed something whenever I search about neurosurgeon, i found out the cure for paralysis is not found I don’t know if it has been found now but if it hasn’t been found I will try to find it according to Ben Carson saying of THINK BIG
    Now what is actually bordering me now is that me being a Nigerian, Nigeria doesn’t have the necessary equipment compare to Indian who are specially gifted in surgeries
    I really need lot of advice from you guys because of the issue of my country
    I really love this write up, it really motivated and inspired me
    thanks
    I will be very happy if you could kindly reply me

  26. Fareedah Oladeji

    Hi everyone, I’m 14 yrs old, and I’m in my final year at high school.
    Well, i can say I’m a very bright student cuz that has always reflected in my academic performances…
    I know that neurosurgery is just the right profession for me cuz I’ve always thought of taking a career part that is very broad, complex and challenging of which neurosurgery prooved 2 be d no.1 option.
    I have always wanted to travel to USA, study there and work. But i got to know that studying over there would cost a whole lot of money which my parents might not be able to afford.
    The question is can i study here in Nigeria and be priviledged to work in the United states…? Please, i need a reply…

  27. Ajibade David

    Hi my name is David Ajibade am in my final level in high school. My dream is to be a great neurosurgeon in life that will save people’s lives

  28. David

    I’m a 14 year old boy in 10th grade and i really want to be a neurosurgeon and it has been my dream since i was 6 years old, since and one in my who is sick or ill i try my best to help them in any physical and scientific way possible. Ben Carson is my role model and there’s a particular word that always makes to have faith in myself which was said by his mom saying” you can be anything you want” and i want to be like Ben Carson and my mom will say that i can even be better than if i believe in myself and a wise man once it is not over until it is over so no matter what i most become a neurosurgeon and i’m ready for it. Thank you

  29. chisom udeh

    Although am Sixteen now and i had never heard of a course/profession called neurosurgery until i met benjamin carson who motivated me am so happy today seeing many student like me requesting for the same thing God bless you all

  30. REJOICE

    This is the best article i have ever read ,I mean the people who were being interviewed are intellectuals they are intelligent and i too hope one day i can become like them because NEUROSURGERY has always been my dream.This article has inspired me to do more to become a NEUROSURGEON and to one day become an inspiration to another child who has big dreams.THANK YOU.

  31. precious

    hi my name is obule precious, i have always wanted to be a neurosurgeon because of the change i planned on bringing to medical world ,i just hope my dreams come true

  32. Welfgan Gift

    I am 15yrs, am learning at Sawagongo high school am in form 2 I would like to be a NEUROSURGEON Which grade should I get………?

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