How can a dentist become a brain surgeon?
Question:
How can a dentist become a brain surgeon?
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Answer:
A dentist can certainly become a brain surgeon. There are even dual-degree programs in dentistry and medicine. Dentists have a specific doctorate in either dental surgery (D.D.S.) or dental medicine (D.M.D.), which was earned from a dental school and required a different entrance examination. Therefore, while certain credits from dental school may be transferable to medical school, depending on the program and when the courses were taken, a dentist would have to follow the same general path as anyone else to become a neurosurgeon. Ultimately, showing interest in being a physician will be important in the context of a career change.
A neurosurgeon must complete medical school and earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). This requires taking the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), which can typically only be 2-3 years old prior to applying to medical school. All prerequisite science courses will be necessary in most cases, which may be an advantage for someone who first pursued dentistry. Following medical school, a neurosurgery residency is required, which generally takes seven years to complete. Many neurosurgeons proceed with a fellowship, which can be a specialized training experience in various types of surgery (e.g., spine, vascular, neuro-oncology) and either clinical- or research-based.
For more information about becoming a neurosurgeon, check out this article: How to Become a Neurosurgeon: Job Description & Career Requirements
