Pediatric Neurosurgery

We finally received the okay to start making phone calls and scheduling interviews. Initially I was pretty nervous. Sending an email was not too difficult; it was moreover the actual act of picking up a phone, dialing a number, and talking to another person that was intimidating to me. However, after the first call, it became easier. It is sometimes difficult when the person on the other end of the line is quiet and non responsive. Particularly with doctors' secretaries, they are not accustomed to getting such a phone call and often times they are unsure of how to respond. It is important that I do not let conversation just stall and keep it moving along. I tried contacting doctors at UT Southwestern and Cooks Children's Hospital. In addition to making these phone calls, I emailed several pediatric neurosurgeons and neurologists. Although some replied back enthusiastically, I realize that doctors lead extremely busy lives and it is very difficult to schedule research interviews with them. Nonetheless, I already have my 1st interview scheduled and am going to work diligently to get more interviews in the weeks to come.

One other thing I focused on this past week was shaking the hands of all the Assistant Principals and the Principal and introducing myself to them. Other than this past week, I do not think I have ever even talked to these individuals who play such a crucial role in making sure our school runs smoothly. It was interesting getting to talk to them and although it was somewhat nerve-racking to go up to them, they were all sociable and kind. The biggest thing I have learned is that once you make that first step to go and say hi, the rest will come easily and naturally.

After completing my first research assessment, I realized how vast the field of pediatric neurosurgery is. There are so many different types of neurological disorders and diseases and each one typically has many treatment options. Because of this, doctors have to stay on top of the latest scientific findings so that they are able to diagnose and treat their patients to the best of their ability. There is such an immense amount of knowledge to obtain and this realization only makes me more eager for the year ahead. However, before I can truly begin this journey, I must first develop some necessary skills.

This past week we focused on being able to properly compose and carry ourselves. We practiced handshakes and introductions. One thing I have learned is that a smile goes a very long way. We also held mock phone interviews as well as personal interviews. Through these exercises I was able to train myself to think one step ahead, so to speak. For example, during the mock interviews, I realized that it is imperative that I start formulating an answer in my head as soon as the interviewer starts asking his/her question. In interviews especially it is extremely important that I do not stumble over my words or pause for an extended period of time. By using the skills I learned this past week, I feel confident that I will do well going into any interview in the future.

This upcoming week, I plan on calling and emailing pediatric neurosurgeons and hopefully scheduling some research interviews. However before I go on any professional visits, I need to finalize my resume and also do a little bit more research on the common neurological disorders found amongst children.

   
 This past week was mainly focused on preparing for our Business Symposium and future interviews. Besides learning how to properly shake another person's hand, we learned the basics of professional dress and etiquette. The most beneficial lesson I learned from last was how to appropriately and effectively answer interview questions. Now although this seems somewhat silly, I did not realize until now how important interviews are. It gives people a chance to show how well they interact with others but more so than that, there are many subtle aspects of what occurs during an interview that can reveal a person's true character.One lesson I learned is the importance of body language. The way in which one carries themselves reveals a lot about their confidence as well as their maturity.  As a personal goal, from now on, I am going to be conscious about how I compose my answers when asked a question.

     One other major task I accomplished was finalizing my list of contacts. Initially I struggled with this assignment because within the Dallas Fort-Worth metroplex, there are only about five pediatric neurosurgeons. Therefore, I had to broaden my field. I knew between pediatrics and neurosurgery, I was more passionate about pediatrics and so I decided to find some pediatric neurologists. However, because I did want to keep an open mind, I also gathered some neurosurgeon contact information.

     This coming week, I plan on polishing up my resume and finishing my first research assessment. As I have a list of about 25 physicians, I hope that throughout this week I will start sending out emails and making phone calls.

     Sometimes going into a career without knowing any information whatsoever can be intimidating. I wanted to learn the basics of Pediatric Neurosurgery and what this field entailed.  This is what I learned.

• At least 4 years of medical school
• One year of surgical internship
• Five or more years of residency training in neurological surgery
• Additional training in pediatric neurosurgery
• Certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) and the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery (ABPNS)

• Treat children from the newborn period through the teenage years
• Diagnose, treat, and manage children’s nervous system problems and head and spinal deformities
• Perform surgery on the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves to remove tumors, relieve chronic pain and treat wounds, vascular disorders and diseases
• Interpret results of diagnostic tests such as magnetic resonance imaging, CT scans and PET scans

• <5 years experience = $411, 038
• 10 – 19 years experience = $501, 276
• 20+ years experience = $544, 961

• Brain Tumors: Almost 2,000 children are diagnosed every year
• Medulloblastomas - malignant tumors of the central nervous system starting in the cerebellum
• Astrocytomas – originate in the essential cell of the brain, the astrocyte cells
• Craniopharyngiomas – occurring near the pituitary gland
• Vascular Abnormalities:
• Aneurysms – microsurgical clipping, endovascular coiling
• Arteriovenous malformations – microsurgical resection, stereotactic radiotherapy, endovascular embolization
• Moyamoya – microsurgical pial synangiosis, microsurgical extracranial-to-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery, microsurgical encephaloduromyosynagiosis (EDMS), microsurgical encephaloduroarteriosynagiosis (EDAS).
• Craniosynostosis: A condition in which the sutures close the bone plates of the skull too early, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth.
• Calvarial vault remodelling
• Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery

• John Hopkins: hydrocephalus, craniosynostosis, achondroplasia, epilepsy, tumors
• University of Utah: Cannibidiol (CBD) – pediatric neurology, epilepsy

• American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons: It founded in January of 1978 by eighteen North American neurosurgeons. Its primary purpose is to improve the neurosurgical care of the children by advancing and advocating the specialty of Pediatric Neurosurgery. This organization is committed to discovering, defining and delivering the best care for patients with pediatric neurosurgical disease regardless of their age
• American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons – Pediatric Neurosurgery Section: It is a faction of AANS/CNS that originated as a means to promote, honor and serve pediatric neurosurgeons. It focuses on enhancing and assuring the advancement of the subspecialty of pediatric neurosurgery, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, and advancing education, research, and patient care.
• Pediatric Neurosurgery Journal
• Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics (AANS)
• Pediatric Neurology Journal

• Pediatrics – Deals with newborns to adolescents in a general field; no speciality
• Neurosurgery – Includes brain, spinal cord, and nervous system but does not focus on children
• Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon – Focuses on the heart and its functions; limited to children

• Dr. Ben Carson – accredited with being the surgeon to successfully separate conjoined twins joined at the head. Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital.

1. What are some of the challenges that are unique to this particular specialty?
2. How does working with children differ from working with adults?
3. What is key to becoming a successful pediatric neurosurgeon?
4. How is this field planning to evolve/change/adapt in the years to come?
5. What does a typical day/week entail?

     Walking into my ISM class the first day of school, I can clearly remember the plethora of emotions running through my mind. I was worried, excited, nervous, curious, and scared. I had absolutely no idea what to expect of the journey I was about to embark upon. However, I can confidently say that over the course of the last two weeks, any fear or doubt that may have been in my mind have been replaced with a strong desire to succeed. 

     The second day of class itself, we were all required to give a speech. Under normal circumstances, I am actually quite comfortable with public speaking. But this was a different scenario. As I was waiting anxiously in my seat, I remember hoping that I would not walk up there, forget everything and make a complete fool of myself in front of all my peers. I was expecting an intimidating and harsh audience. But what I received was the exact opposite. Every single one of my peers listened attentively, and gave me positive feedback and constructive criticism. Beyond the public speaking tips I gained through this particular exercise, I learned something even more valuable - that we are not in this alone. We have got an entire group of friends that are standing along beside us, rooting us on, making sure that at the end of this year, we accomplish our goals. I am ecstatic about this upcoming year and cannot wait to learn more about my topic of study, pediatric neurosurgery. More so than that though, I am excited about all the valuable skills I will learn from not only my mentor, but also my peers. 

     Although initially I was quite daunted by the amount of work and effort required, it is amazing to look back and see how much I have already accomplished. Over the past two weeks, I have chosen my quote of the year, written my mission statement, researched the basic information about pediatric neurosurgery and also set-up this blog. This upcoming week, I plan on finishing my resume,  polishing up my blog, as well as adding more contacts to my list of pediatric neurosurgeons.