What does a Neurologist do?
A Neurologist works with patients who are dealing with neurological disorders or diseases. They see patients and conduct examinations and assessments to determine a medical cause. A Neurologist also assesses their patient’s mental health and overall physical health. As part of their diagnostic process, they may perform or requisition additional tests or scans, such as magnetic resonance imaging, or an MRI. They use all of the tests and scans paired with their assessment to determine an appropriate plan of treatment and management for neurological conditions.
Neurologist skills and qualifications
A Neurologist needs to operate at a high standard in both their skill and their professionalism. Working with patients who are experiencing neurological problems requires them to have compassion and understanding. Additionally, a Neurologist needs to work closely with many other healthcare professionals for the betterment of their patients. Some of the critical skills and qualifications include:
- Ability to counsel patients on the psychological and social aspects of neurological diseases and disorders
- Willingness to provide consultative service to other medical and health care professionals, including the referring physicians
- Desire to maintain and enhance both professional and technical skills on an ongoing basis
- Ability to independently assess their performance as a medical professional and adjust as necessary
- Willingness to provide patient care with a teaching component for medical students
- Exceptional communication skills, including writing and verbal, with an ability to simplify complex topics
Neurologist experience requirements
Neurologists collect much of their necessary experience during their residency programs. But they can also continue their specialized training to complete a subspecialization in a particular field. For example, some Neurologists specialize in child neurology, vascular neurology, or neuro-oncology. Neurologists often sit on healthcare committees or research boards, which provide valuable additional experience.
Neurologist education and training requirements
To practice as a Neurologist in Canada, a medical degree is required from an accredited medical school. They need to complete an additional five years of specialized residency training and pass a certifying exam from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Neurologists must then register for a licence with the applicable regulatory body in their practicing province or territory.
Job description samples for similar positions
If a Neurologist is not quite what you are looking for, other job description samples that may fit your needs include: