What makes a neurosurgeon?
“Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.” P. J. Abdul Kalam When I was in medical school, a question frequently asked by friends and family was, “How do you decide what kind of doctor to become?” I eventually developed an answer in the form of a metaphor: imagine you are at a gourmet […]
Cross-Post: First Female Neurosurgeon to Become a Medical School Dean: Julie G. Pilitsis Shares Her Path to Success
Our current series on Making and Maintaining a Neurosurgeon discusses how one transitions from student to resident to practicing neurosurgeon. This cross-post highlights the second chapter after practicing neurosurgery. Eleven years ago, Julie G. Pilitsis, MD, PhD, FAANS, set a goal to become a dean for a college of medicine. To achieve this goal, Dr. […]
How (Not) to Approach Mentorship: A Neurosurgeon’s Perspective
“I’m happy to write a letter of recommendation for you, but you should know that I will only mentor you if you decide to stay here for the summer…” This was my introduction to mentorship as a first-year medical student. The offer was straightforward, and as a first-generation student without any external mentors, I took […]