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I would firstly like to thank the author for the article titled “How to become a neurosurgeon”; it offers a helpful and concise guide to all budding neurosurgeons. This article takes all prospective neurosurgery applicants on a step-by-step journey to securing a neurosurgical training post following graduation from medical school. I write to you as a current medical student and would like to offer a student’s perspective.
As aforementioned, the author starts this journey following a doctor’s graduation from medical school. The author asserts that “it’s important [during foundation training] to try and get the right exposure and experience, including, if possible, getting involved in research or audit.” Whilst this advice is useful and seeking opportunities during foundation training is important, I would suggest that a prospective applicant’s journey, like my own, may begin long before foundation training. The importance of securing such research opportunities should indeed be encouraged during a doctor’s foundation training, but current student readers should be encouraged to begin their journey now. Further advice on how to secure the aforementioned research opportunities would be benefit both senior student (i.e. final year medical students) and foundation doctor readers. Moreover, the importance of other academic and extracurricular activities should be highlighted such as: delivering poster and oral presentations, winning academic prizes and completing additional degrees (such as an intercalated degree). These activities are pertinent to securing a higher training post and thus, are likely improve a prospective applicant’s chance of securing a neurosurgical training post.
The highly competitive nature of this field, evidenced by the figures cited in the final paragraph of this article, affirms the notion that it is "never too early” to start preparing. In support of this sentiment, Saeed and Anderson assert that “[c]andidates should start building their CVs as medical students.” [1] Therefore, some additional information regarding the steps a current medical student can take to better their chances of securing a neurosurgical training post would be invaluable.
I would like to once again thank the author for this article.
References
1. Saeed Fozia and Anderson Ian A. Securing a neurosurgery interview. BMJ 2016; 355:i5976 (https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i5976)
Re: How to become a neurosurgeon
Dear Editor,
I would firstly like to thank the author for the article titled “How to become a neurosurgeon”; it offers a helpful and concise guide to all budding neurosurgeons. This article takes all prospective neurosurgery applicants on a step-by-step journey to securing a neurosurgical training post following graduation from medical school. I write to you as a current medical student and would like to offer a student’s perspective.
As aforementioned, the author starts this journey following a doctor’s graduation from medical school. The author asserts that “it’s important [during foundation training] to try and get the right exposure and experience, including, if possible, getting involved in research or audit.” Whilst this advice is useful and seeking opportunities during foundation training is important, I would suggest that a prospective applicant’s journey, like my own, may begin long before foundation training. The importance of securing such research opportunities should indeed be encouraged during a doctor’s foundation training, but current student readers should be encouraged to begin their journey now. Further advice on how to secure the aforementioned research opportunities would be benefit both senior student (i.e. final year medical students) and foundation doctor readers. Moreover, the importance of other academic and extracurricular activities should be highlighted such as: delivering poster and oral presentations, winning academic prizes and completing additional degrees (such as an intercalated degree). These activities are pertinent to securing a higher training post and thus, are likely improve a prospective applicant’s chance of securing a neurosurgical training post.
The highly competitive nature of this field, evidenced by the figures cited in the final paragraph of this article, affirms the notion that it is "never too early” to start preparing. In support of this sentiment, Saeed and Anderson assert that “[c]andidates should start building their CVs as medical students.” [1] Therefore, some additional information regarding the steps a current medical student can take to better their chances of securing a neurosurgical training post would be invaluable.
I would like to once again thank the author for this article.
References
1. Saeed Fozia and Anderson Ian A. Securing a neurosurgery interview. BMJ 2016; 355:i5976 (https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i5976)
Competing interests: No competing interests