Surviving Neurosurgery: Vignettes of Resilience is a practical guide to the inner workings of the lives of neurosurgeons, healthcare partners, and patients. To this end, this text serves as a first-hand documentary of the unique challenges faced as one progresses through their career. It is a snapshot in time capturing the experiences of both patients and providers. The text is divided into seven parts that run the gamut of a neurosurgeon’s career symbolic of the seven years of neurosurgical training. These narratives include, but are not limited to, residency challenges, surgical nuances, research and funding, embracing humanity, patient experiences, and overcoming hurdles along the journey. Chapters share the wisdom and experiences of over 100 authors consisting of patients, trainees, advanced practice providers, and attending neurosurgeons.
Author(s): Nitin Agarwal, Vamsi Reddy
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 515
City: Cham
Foreword
Preface
Contents
Contributors
Abbreviations
Part I: Resident Experience
1: The Black Box: A Privilege and a Calling
2: The Two A’s of Neurosurgery: A Subintern’s Experience
The Sub-I Experience
Selecting Subinternships
Pearls and Pitfalls: Perspectives from a (Very) Recent Subintern
Parting Thoughts
A Faculty’s Perspective: What We Look for from a Subintern
3: Into the Zone of Action: Neurosurgical Sub-internship
4: The Right Stuff: What Program Directors Look for in Residency Applicants
What Do PDs Want to See in Residency Applicants?
References
5: So We Beat On, Boats Against the Current: Overcoming Challenges to Match
Short Story
6: Behind the Curtain: Residency Interviews
Have a Cohesive Story
The Five Ps: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
Don’t Forget, You Are also Interviewing Them
30 Interviews Are Not Better Than 15
Always Be Smiling
7: Living in Two Worlds: Dual Degree
Short Story
8: Matching Plus One
9: Lessons for New Interns
Fear Is Nothing to Fear
Respect Other Services
Remember Yourself
10: Chief Year Story: Day 2946
11: Hail Mary: Surviving Call as a Junior Resident
12: Preparing for the Written Boards
Background
Content
Scoring
Tools Available
How I Prepared
References
Books for Studying
13: A Knot in the Heart: Junior Resident Experience
14: Stoking the Fire: Consult Story
15: The Maserati: Choosing the Ideal Mentor
16: To Washington and Back: My Thoughts on Healthcare Activism
Introduction
Practical Experience
Role of a White House Fellow (Neurosurgeon in the White House)
Lessons Learned
Application to a Career in Neurosurgery
17: A Bridge, but No River: The Fellow-ish Experience
Part II: Attending Experience
18: Becoming the Theologian and the Priest: Advice for Residents
Good Character: What You Do When You Think No One Is Looking: Is Essential
First, Be a Good Doctor
Be Humble
It Is a Privilege to Be a Neurosurgeon
References
19: A Stroke of Change: Changes in My Practice
References
20: My Greatest Mentor
21: Advancing Academically in Neurosurgery: Harnessing the Sweet Spot While Minimizing the Sweat Spot
Reference
22: Life Beyond Neurosurgery
23: A New Job: A Steep Learning Curve
24: Negotiating Your Way to a Fulfilling Neurosurgery Career: Clinical Contract
References
25: Negotiating a Research Contract
Research the Position, Institution, and the Boss
Be Aware of the Interpersonal Complexity Among Negotiation Stakeholders
Mentally Prepare, Know Yourself
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, and Work Hard
You Cannot Have the Cake and Eat It Too
Aim High and Anchor First
Final Words of Advice
26: Surviving Medicaid, Medicare, Private Payors, Billing, and Collections in 2020
References
27: How to Choose a Team
28: Advice to Recent Residency Graduates
29: Neurosurgical Leadership: Altruism and Aequanimitas
Reference
30: Directing a Neurosurgery Residency Training Program
Reference
31: Lessons on Leadership from a Society President
32: AANS/CNS Washington Committee: Ensuring Neurosurgery Survival
History
Committee Structure
Washington Committee External Relationships and Appointments
Legislative Agenda
Communications
Get Involved
33: Team Management: Lessons from Establishing a Neurointerventional Service
Recognize Existing Resources and Opportunities
Lead by Example and Delegate Effectively
Empower Your Team and Cultivate a Growth Mindset
References
34: PArtner in Neurological Surgery
35: Cost-Cutting Without Quality-Cutting
Reference
36: Neurosurgery Across the Globe
References
37: Lessons Learned: Life in Neurosurgery
Reference
38: Global Neurosurgery: How Best to Be Involved
Introduction
Education
Research
Clinical Activity
References
39: Preparing for the Oral Board Exam
40: Challenges of Coding and Reimbursement
References
41: Sponsor for Trainees
References
42: The Neuroendovascular Surgery Odyssey
References
Part III: Operating Room
43: My Worst Complication
44: Judgment, Teams, and Hands: Beyond Technical Skills in the Operating Room
Surgical Decision Making
The Team, the Team, the Team
It’s All About the Patient
Summary
References
45: Supporting Future Generations of Neurosurgeons: Passing the Torch
46: The “Tail” of the Intraneural Ganglion Cyst: My Most Fascinating Case
References
47: Morbidity and Mortality
48: Preparing for the OR: From the Lab to the OR
References
49: Intraoperative Teamwork: Two-Surgeon Model
Communication
Knowledge of Personal Strengths
Humility and Trust
References
50: Gaining Competence in Neurological Surgery: Is It Enough?
51: A Critical Portion of the Case Occurs in the Clinic
References
Part IV: Choosing A Subspecialty
52: Why I Chose to Be a Neurosurgeon
53: A Subspecialty at a Glance: Endovascular Neurosurgery
References
54: No Longer Gentleman Hands: Choosing Spine Surgery
55: The Modern-Day Skull Base Surgeon
References
56: Choosing Neurosurgical Oncology
References
57: From Cajal to Talairach: A Journey to Epilepsy Surgery
58: Choosing Pediatric Neurosurgery
59: A Focus on Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Neurosurgery
References
60: Bench and Bedside: The Path to Becoming a Physician-Scientist
61: Private Practice
62: Neurological Sports Medicine: Choosing a Subspecialty Which is Both Practical and Useful
63: Neurotrauma: Endlessly Rewarding
Reference
64: Rewiring the Peripheral Nervous System
References
Part V: Research
65: Research Year Story
References
66: The MD/PhD and the Neurosurgeon/Neuroscientist
References
67: How to Give a Great Presentation
68: The Job of Editor-in-Chief of a Neurosurgery Journal
My “Writing and Publication Story” in a Nutshell
World Neurosurgery Workflow: How It All Gets Done
Narrative Regarding My Day-to-Day Journal Activities
Would I Do It Again?
69: Neurosurgery and the Pursuit of Fundamental Neuroscience
References
70: How to Get Research Funding (AKA, How to Successfully Bang Your Head Against the Wall)
Strike Early, Strike Often
Diversify Your Portfolio
Find Your Niche (50 + 75 = 100)
Identify Great Collaborators
Make Time
71: A Podcast for Neurosurgeons: Conception, Creation, Continuation
72: AANS Neurosurgeon: Creativity Outside of the Operating Room
73: Getting Started in Research: Testimonial From a “Late Bloomer”
74: The “Keys” to Starting Your Research Laboratory
Sell Yourself as a Specialist
Find Your Support System
Create Your Scientific Network
Your Path to Success
References
75: Technophilia and Neurosurgery
References
76: How to Conduct Meaningful Research: How Not to Reinvent Just Another Wheel
Reference
Part VI: Humanity in Neurosurgery
77: Work–Life Balance: Preserving Soul and Sanity
78: Having Children During Residency
79: The @Graffeo 10 Commandments for #NSGY Twitter
Introduction
#NSGY #SoMe: Anatomy of the Digital Landscape
All the News That’s Fit to Tweet
The World’s Biggest Journal Club
Future Present Tense: Learning in the Digital Epoch
Neurosurgery, Professionalism, and the New Social Networks
Additional Resources
References
80: Public Service in Neurosurgery
References
81: Diversity in Neurosurgery
Diversity Issues in Neurosurgery
Lessons Learned From Other Professions
Benefits of Diversity: Biological and Economic Perspectives
Conclusion
References
82: Military Neurosurgery
83: Thriving in a Two-Surgeon Household
84: Surviving a Malpractice Lawsuit
References
85: Engagement and Leadership in Organized Neurosurgery
86: Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Field
Introduction
Tips for Women Interested in Neurosurgery
Societal Norms and Gender Dynamics
Family Planning
Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Discrimination
Microaggressions, Self-Fulfilling Prophecies, and Career Tracking
How Do We Continue Making Progress?
References
87: In the Eyes of Chiari
88: Mindfulness, and Coping with the Inevitable Tragedies of Neurosurgery
Personal Story
Burnout
Mindfulness
References
89: How to Build a Successful Academic Innovation Program and Why Innovation Should Be a Core Neurosurgical Competency
References
90: Art of Neurosurgery: The Commissure
References
91: Mission Trips: How Outreach Changed My Life
References
92: The Family Is an Extension of the Patient
93: A Personal Journey
Part VII: Not Always a Straight Road
94: Switching Programs
Introduction
Finding a Program Vacancy
Orphaned Residents
Concluding Statements
References
95: Applying to Neurosurgery: Do’s and Don’ts
A Comment About the Merger
96: Changing Neurosurgery Programs
97: The Only Way to Survive Falling out of an Airplane Is to Go Limp
98: Flipping Burgers Due to Career Burnout
99: So You Didn’t Match
References
100: Overcoming Frustration: Grind My Gears, Butter My Bread
101: Chasing the American Dream
Short Story
Index
