BRAIN SURGEON Reacts: So You Want to Be a Neurosurgeon? - Med School Insiders 

I love how Dr. Rutkowski speaks in MLA format

"Be a good person, and the rest will take care of itself". That actually blew my mind. Thanks for the video doc!!!

That entire eyebrow raise half smirk and "no comment" after hearing the 80 hour work week at 17:20 was HILARIOUS

Fabulous. As a female and someone who is an academic physician scientist neurosurgeon I am proud to say that this speciality has infinite growth opportunities that allow us to make an impact on the life of those we serve. It is truly a privilege and with almost 35 years in...I still pinch myself of how fortunate I am to be a lifelong learner and give back as well as look forward to each day...as it's always a great day to save a life. Live your fabulocity brain nomads!

As someone who has just been accepted into medical school and read Henry Marsh’s ‘do no harm’ book, I currently have little desire to pursue neurosurgery due to its intense lifestyle demands. At the same time I have massive respect and admiration for the skill, precision and drive required to be a neurosurgeon. I’m loving these videos.

I’m an undergrad, major in neuroscience, minor in psychology. Due to your videos and an honorable mention from NDMD, I’m certain I’m going into the right specialty. Welcome we with open arms !

26:19 What you said about it being a "call to action" really resonated with me, at the worst moments of at someone's you are suppose their beacon of hope in what is probably someone's most emotionally taxing point in their life. It seems so obvious yet hit me hard just now it's true in that position, you are someone's last ray of hope in their darkest hour and it helps keeps the tone optimistic. I genuinely adore that positive perspective on things Also 25:18 Made me laugh hard out loud , Thanks for adding a dose of reality to that Med School Insiders video, as usually learned quite a bit .Take Care Dr. Rutkowski

Thank you for this video Dr.Rutkowski! I appreciate your information and commentary becoming a neurosurgeon! It really helps aspiring neurosurgeons like me get better insight from someone like you who has been through the actual process! Currently going through the process right of looking into what type of neurosurgery I would like to go into! Thank you for this again!!

I appreciate this so much Dr! Committing to a profession is not easy especially when you go on the internet and find more answers turning down neurosurgery than encouraging you to go for it. I have an itch that won’t let me set this aspiration aside and I’m in the process of getting my pre med courses done! Thank you once again.

I was waiting for that since long time. Thanks Doc, you Showed us many important facts and details.

Thank you for this video Doc. I’ve watched the med school insiders video, but having the extra tidbits of information from you was extremely interesting!

As a pediatric pathologist I greatly appreciate your comments re peds neurosurgery. I have worked with a number of outstanding pediatric neurosurgeons and I greatly appreciate both their skill sets, but also their humanity.

Didn’t know you had a channel but so good to find you!! I am a brain tumor patient and I have learned so much from my NS and find the brain fascinating!

Thanks for the video, Dr Rutkowski. I really want, based in the part of the video of the profile of who can enter in the field, to know what are the best path and process for an IMG to be a great candidate. Thanks for your comments and great actitude, that really represent how the neurosurgeons are actually. The more you know and abilities to have, the more humble and responsible we must be. Greetings from Ecuador.

Thank you for the video Dr. Rutkowski! It would be really valuable if you could you make a video explaining the different sub-specialties within neurosurgery and what kinds of procedures they preform!

Neonatologist here. Pediatric neurosurgeons are the nicest and most optimist surgeons I know.

Thank you for this! Much love from Ghana 🇬🇭

Excellent analysis, Sir. Thank you for your time. Also, great painting of you from Dr. Lewis S. Blevins in the background.

This is excellent. Thank you Doctors! (from an FM resident)

I really enjoyed your reactions Doctor. I am not in medicine, however last fall I had my second spine surgery. I was interested in this video and your responses. I do have a couple of comments about his stereotypes. My neurosurgeon is noted as being one of the top notch neurosurgeons in our area. Nothing crude about his surgeries! Another doctor asked a friend, who is also a former patient of his, who did her previous decompression surgery. That doctor had never seen such clean nerve passages in the spine. A couple of stories about my experience. My first surgery was an ACDF on C5 to C7. I had very good outcomes, immediate reduction in pain and immediate return of strength in my left hand and arm. I found it funny about a year later, I had to have emergency Gall Bladder surgery. The general surgeon is duly telling me of all the risks and dangers of this surgery. I was just nodding and acknowledging his comments when he stopped and asked if I understood what he was saying. I pointed out that the previuos year I allowed a doctor to take a scalpel to my spine...the potential list of things that could go wrong with his surgery was much less scary. My second spine surgery was a Lumbar Laminectomy on L4 for some severe nerve pain down one leg last summer. I had a disc herniation that went to both sides of my spine (greater on my left) and up the spinal canal. My surgery took much longer than my neurosurgeon expected as the disc material in the spinal canal came out in pieces. He ended up making an incision from L5 to L2 to feel under the vertebrae to make sure he had all the disc material was out. To say this surgery was life changing is an understatement! He and his surgical team gave me my life back. Again, wonderful outcomes. I was also impressed at my last appointment with him. The clinic was upgrading their EMR system. I needed PT to relearn how to walk standing up straight, he took a long time to come back with those orders. He apologized for the delay, it took him a while to figure out how to order PT on the new systems. I thought that it was wonderful that he was intent on learning how to do it himself rather than just asking his nurse or PA to do it. He is the furthest thing from a jock type, in fact not a single neurosurgeon in that clinic is a jock type. I hope to not have to see him again, however he is a wonderful man and doctor! I greatly appreciate the miracle of neurosurgery.

Wow. I am glad I discovered your channel❤️ Big shoutout out to you too Doc

as an aspiring neurosurgeon who'll hopefully be starting premed courses this upcoming year I genuinely can't thank you enough! hearing the views of someone in the actual field itself is extremely refreshing.

My bestfriend's husband is a neurosurgery resident. She's already an Obgyn but he still has 3 years more to go. I have so much respect for you guys.

I had deep brain stimulation surgery two years ago. It’s an amazing procedure done while fully awake. Fascinating!

Your comment on having the opportunity to instill hope and optimism in dire situations struck a chord with me. Thanks for another great video!

This was an amazing video. All the values you described are ones i have shared growing up but heard so many discouraging things that it got bit misleading. Im finding out that neurosurgery is exactly aligned with my values and interests and am working to be able to affect patients' lives and advance the field through research.

I love this, you should consider making this a series , made my day

I must of watched this a dozen times on my own, but having an OG neurosurgeons insight on it makes this content golden. At 24:00 " i can tell you that at the end, it is completely worth it" really motivates me as an aspiring neurosurgeon. Also the part at 26:00 where you went into the field not despite the less than favorable outcomes but because of them also really helps refocus my aim by reminding me that at the end of the day we truly are striving to save or positively impact lives. Thank you Dr. Rutkowski!

Really refreshing to hear your view, especially as it pertains to the stereotypes and the way your perspective can impact whether the field is draining or rewarding. I’d love to go into surgical neuro oncology or pediatric neurosurgery but it is quite daunting. Thanks for sharing your perspective

this is a really informative and inspiring video as a pre-med student currently applying to medical school with dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon, so thank you for this dr. rutkowski. I would love to see you do a video reacting to a grey’s anatomy episode that is neurosurgery heavy, maybe one that includes a skull base tumor and you could go over how accurate you think their depiction is!!

Very informative, great video. I recently found your page a few weeks ago, and love the content.

Dr. Rutkowski, I watch and enjoy all of your videos. As an aspiring neurosurgeon (currently a mechanical engineer - taking pre-med courses to apply to medical school), I love hearing your insight and thoughts about your profession of neurosurgery. I especially loved the surgery videos you uploaded. I am excited that your channel is growing, and hope to see it continue. Thanks for taking the time out of your days to create this content. I very much look forward to watching more in the future!

I could listen to you for hours even if you were talking about hanging wallpaper. And there you are, talking about my favourite branch of medicine. Actually reigniting the idea that maybe it is for me.

Fun to see Dr Rutkowski carefully listening, nodding his head, and reacting with agreement or not to Dr Jubal's statements and opinions. Thank you.

A neurosurgeon saved my brothers life when he was hit by a propeller blade... Awesome ! I had 2 dreams, 1st to be a fighter pilot and 2nd to be neurosurgeon. Currently In medical school persuing the 2nd dream in Pakistan!

Very insightful, Prof! Glad that I stumbled upon this

About to be go into final year of med school, and always had an affinity for neurosurgery. Thanks a lot doctor!

Thank you Doctor. Video is insightful 😃

Neurosurgery is very romanticized. I'll be a resident next year and wanted to do neurosurgery since I started med school, so I worked my ass off and got perfect grades. But my practical year (I did 4 months in neurosurgery) opened my eyes. I really don't want to ruin my life for my job. I've talked to many neurosurgeons and the majority told me they regret doing it. No free time, no time for the kids, constant stress and work and finally health problems that come with it later on. And to be honest, the surgeries aren't nearly as interesting as I thought them to be anyways. Most of the time you're just more or less sucking out brain tissue with a "small vacuum cleaner", it's oftentimes not even precise or interesting work (maybe except vascular surgery). So I guess it's a nope for me, even though the brain is super fascinating. I'll start my residency in interventional Neuroradiology instead.

Loved the video! Thanks for the breakdown

When you said the reasons he didnt like the field were your reasons for being in this field, that was brilliant

Awesome video, Dr. Rutkowski!

Dr. Rutkowski you are a massive inspiration. Thank you!

Yasss been waiting for this for so long!!!

Definitely I m very much looking forward to watch your Day in the life👍

YAHOO! I love this! What would do on the rare occasion that you do get a break.

Big love Dr.Martin Rutkowski of this video you encourage me to think about neurosurgery in the future and by explaining that is not always a huge hours should every neurosurgery spend in hospital it’s depend on the thing you specialized in❤. 2023/2/16

Great video Dr. Rutkowski and thank you for everything you do!

Cool to hear an actual neurosurgeon’s perspective

Amazingly done ,i am your huge fan ,and i take you as my motivation and mentor ,i hope one day i will be working underyour supervision ,in sha ALLAH, i really appreciate your hard work and good luck ahead !

Recently subscribed, another great video!

4:46 - yes I think functional neurosurgery is so cool! I wonder what aspect of the field is more innovative now - functional MRIs uncovering circuitry or the robotic interface? 11:46 -this "scope creep" is what Dr. Jubbal talks a lot about relative to professions like PAs, NPs, and CRNAs. Since neurosurgical procedures like open aneurysm clippings aren't so commonplace anymore, what do you see happening with this surgical subspecialty as more access to this field opens up? Would it be similar to your discussion of the dynamic between neurosurgical spine surgeons vs. orthopedic ones? Also, since neurosurgeons generally are paid more, it may become more cost-effective for hospitals to employ interventional neuroradiologists if the procedures are similar.

Love your office environment

yes yes and yes. I LOVE everything about neurosurgery. Absolutely EVERYTHING.

Thanks for new video...you are a big inspiration for me. I am med student and I am really interested in neurosurgery

Ah yes. The famous 8 days a week schedule of a neurosurgeon @ 28:18 😂😂😂. Great video as always!

Great detailed video, Dr. Rutkowski! I'm interested in going to med school and surgical specialties are so cool! Love your input and I'm glad I found you from NDMD's channel! New subbie here. :D

I agree with some things (mostly the dry information), some as you say, is more stereotypic. I feel extremely blessed to have been a neurosurgical resident for 5 years, I've learned so much (especially how to be humble, in contrast to the "god complex" silliness), after which I realized my path is better suited in Psychiatry (which is like neurosurgery of the soul :)

I think work-life balance is an important consideration, depending on the student. Of course I want to do the best for my patients, but I do have other priorities in my life that are also important to me. A surgeon with a highly specialized or unique skill set must always be there for their patients because nobody else can take their place, whereas (for example) an emergency medicine doc can essentially leave their work at work knowing another doctor will be available to take care of patients. Some specialties are more or less conducive to a good work-life balance, and that can be an important consideration to someone who doesn't absolutely fall in love with one field or another. And even if I were to fall in love with neurosurgery, I couldn't see myself applying because I have other responsibilities that would make even getting through residency very difficult. Thank you Dr. Rutkowski for this video! I enjoyed watching and learned a lot.

Thanks for a great video!!

How did you decide to do an MD vs MD/PhD? How would you say your work balance of surgery/clinical and research differs from an MD/PhD?

Wow Dr. Rutkowski started out right out of high school and didn’t get into his practice as a neuro surgeon till he was 40 yrs old. Disclaimer my comment is highly presumptuous. I’m glad he has called BS on some of the inaccuracies.

Watching this as I’m sitting in the hospital with my 5yo who just had neurosurgery called SDR (she’s doing great…giving her so much relief in her legs!). All the resident doctors/fellows we’ve seen in the last week look like they are in their 30s made me wonder how long the residency was. Seems like by the time you finallllyyyy finish all the training it’s almost time to retire 🤣.

Hello Professor, great video as always. I have one question : before starting neurosurgery residency which fields of medicine you suggest to revive (basics and clincal) for sure? Of course anatomy, neurology - but any others comes to your mind?

You inspire me , doctor! Much love and respect.

I am grateful for the neurosurgery that helped me after a stroke. The first surgery saved my life, the second functional surgery redeemed my abilities to work. 😊

No comment 🤣. Thank you so much for your videos Dr. Rutkowski.

This man is so charismatic. 😳

Im excited on the day in my life video

Thank you for this video, Dr. Rutkowski. And, I like the ending. You magically disappeared!😆 One of the main points I will definitely remember is to avoid getting hung up on stereotypes or the work life balance of Neurosurgery or any other particular specialty. I am looking forward to opportunities to actually check out what the specialty is like!

That "no comment" though 😂😂

Yes, I want to be a "NEUROSURGEON"❤️🧠

i agree with you because i am as pasionate about neurosurgery as you are. thats why all the so called ''negatives'' i dont mind and i don't care about them. I love EVERYTHING about neurosurgery.

Thanks

Currently majoring in neuroscience and applying to med school next cycle. I would absolutely love to get into neurosurgery. Of course that may change when I’m fully exposed to all of the specialties in school, but I just have a genuine fascination and love for the brain. It’s the most complex object in the universe as we know it. What’s not to like??

I wish that i saw this 5 years ago.

Great Neurosurgeon Dr Martin Rutkowski ❤❤

When I was in college I was pretty sure that Neurosurgeon was the one for me, But after reality striked me really hard on how hard really it is to become a Neurosurgeon, I moved on another career, To radiology 😄😄 now im on my 2nd year in med school as a Radiology student 😄😄

thank you dr

OMG couldn’t watch the whole video but!!! Drooled over rhoton! I use a pdf ppfft

0:26 did he just say rocket surgeon??? lol

i was thinking about neurosurgery but id like to have a life too haha. i value work but also life and it is necessary for me to separate the two so i may refuel. Therefore an unpredictable schedule is not something i am a fan of. thing is though, i love neuroscience and i am looking into neuroradiology or neurology. not too sure which one to pick!

13:25 Thankyou for this!

2:00 He meant the P.N.S part... now try it, and you'll get it, lol! I'm silly.. I know, but I had to comment on that.. Edit: Just finished the video, this was a very informative and honest perspective.... In regards to some issues, I think these are even better than a neurosurgeon covering these topics from his own point of view and experience alone, because you get the chance to bust some myths that you might not consider being an insider who already learned about them early on... and some of these are really off-putting to aspiring med students and even graduates thinking about this choice of residency! 26:04 I find your perspective on the matter of responsibility as a doctor as really great and sets an example! Not a lot of doctors weigh in when it comes to this aspect, or even give it a thought! A lot of them tend to make it look like a field where the "job market" details and offerings are "only" what matters... they do matter, but also, being a doctor, you should have in mind that the motor of the motivation / drive you should operate with is to actively, at heart, have "the purpose" of improving the health of all and overall! It might sound like preaching, but medicine loses purpose when all the deciding factors are reduced to : what can I get, how to only get that and what's the easiest option. You shouldn't only look forward to treating easy patients because in every single specialty that's not always the case, and it shouldn't be.. because those with end-stage disease and poor outcome conditions also need someone who cares! If not, and it's ONLY about how to do medicine only when it's easy and fairly manageable.. then it becomes more of exploiting... speedrunning, in my opinion, and that's definitely not how the healthcare system and practice advances! It's like maximizing the - already established and easy to get - benefits but not looking forward to minimize the - poorly addressed / explored or dealt with - harms... medicine is both.

I love this guy

28:20 imagine working so hard you need an 8th day in the week to fit it all in 😱

Thank you for being honest. The internet is full of shallow content with with general rationalizations. Please never sell out on youtube just for views.

Just in time🤩

Hi doctor Runtkowski! Is there a big gap between USP (Brazil) neurosurgery residency’s and any US neurosurgery residency?

I keep waiting for the good Dr R to point the the picture behind him and say, 'See this picture behind me, I mean portrait?' 😂😂

Love you videos Dr. Rutkowski. Have you ever heard that you look like Will Wheaton from The Bigbang Theory?

My circumstances crushed my dreams!

2:07 - "Fair enough": Dr Rutkowski seems undisturbed by the PNS joke

17:27 “No Comment 🫣” 😂😂😂

Is it possible to combine vascular neurosurgery and pediatric neurosurgery?

Doctor ! I am so grateful of this yt channel! It'd be amazing if you opened up an Instagram account, a lot of us would love to see you and chat with you more frequently! I aspire to become a neurosurgeon in the future; I'm an IMG from Mexico I will be starting a position as a Neurosurgery research fellow at the methodist next month. This kind of videos really help students like me to keep going. God Bless you doctor !

You’re right

The best doctor

❤love you doctor

15:23 will you advice IMGs to go for a PHD? as it will increases the YOG and programmes will reject us without even reviewing our application. I am interested in cerebrovascular and skulll base outcome research, what should I do, should I go for a PHD or the usual postdoc fellowship? I am a NON US IMG and interested in academic practice in future.