Dora Said:

Medical school?

We Answered:

If your ambition is one day to be a leader in the World Health Organization or to be dean of Harvard's medical school, you need to look at a prestigious school. If your primary interest is in simply having a good practice, then relax. Much too much is made of these things, and you can focus on the actual education, not where you get it. As an example, I went to a small public college that isn't on anybody's radar screen, but its pre-med people get into good medical schools at a higher-than-average rate and enjoy their college experience while doing so. Heck, even your medical school is a lot less important than the residency that follows. Also, don't major in chemistry or biology unless you want to. There are pre-requisites (and you can find these and a lot more information at http://www.aamc.org ) but if I had it to do over again, I'd major in history and be at least as good a physician for it.

Leonard Said:

Is there any career that relates to neurology but doesn't require all of medical school?

We Answered:

I would consider looking into becoming an Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist. They work in the clinic with neurologist, performing the electrodiagnostic testing for neurologic conditions such as: ALS, MS, CIDP, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Spinal Radiculopathy, and many other neurologic conditions. They also monitor patients intrraoperatively, during neurosurgical procedures, for brain wave activity, and in the clinic by performing EEGs and other testing. These are also the people who would be working in sleep labs (though that would be one of those overnight jobs watching people sleep, in which I personally would not be able to keep myself interested.

I have a neuromuscular condition and have seen several of these professionals, and they are a very significant part of the health care venue.

As a note, I also have friends who manage neurology practices that started out performing as an EDT. This would let you use both degrees.

Good Luck!



American Association of Electrodiagnostic Technologists
www.aaet.info
American Society of Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist
www.aset.org