The AANS Neurosurgeon is official socioeconomic publication of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) which features information and analysis for contemporary neurosurgical practice. It focuses on issues related to legislation, workforce and practice management as they affect the specialty of neurosurgery. For today’s post we wanted to bring your attention to the newly released issue.
The concept of a sizable learning curve is familiar to any physician — from a resident just starting out to a seasoned surgeon with 25 years of experience — practicing in the field of neurosurgery. The May 2013 issue of AANS Neurosurgeon, “Negotiating the Neurosurgical Learning Curve,” examines how neurosurgeons gain expertise and ascend that very necessary slope. In fact, this issue presents an array of articles that provide different perspectives as to how neurosurgeons manage not one, but all the learning curves they inevitably encounter throughout their careers.
For example, in the feature article, “Adopting New Techniques in Private-practice Neurosurgery,” Mark Spatola, MD, FAANS, shares his personal experience integrating approaches that were not a part of his training into his neurosurgical routine. He discusses how he assimilated new techniques, as well as evaluated them once they were put into practice, and offers some suggestions on how other neurosurgeons might do the same. Dr. Spatola also addresses the introspective considerations that are important early in the process, such as acknowledging personal skill sets and recognizing the needs of the local community, before adopting new techniques.
Elsewhere in the issue, readers can check out new peer-reviewed research, book reviews, and updates from the DC office via its “Washington Watch” column. And as always, the “Neuros in the News” section features neurosurgeons and institutions on the move, from recent appointments to expanding departments and new neurosurgical centers.
I think the neurosurgical learning curves begin when we choose Neurosurgery as our specialty.
The first step we face is to know whether we have enough skill for being a neurosurgeon, while we begin to know the fundamentals of the neurological surgery.
Next we have to learn to deciding as neurosurgeon, as much technically as by humanitarian way.
The challenges succeed up to the seasoned phase of our career. If now the experience is larger, on the other hand the responsibility is still much more.
It seems me this is the day by day of the neurosurgeon.