Background

Name: Mitchel S. Berger, M.D.
Career Advisor for: Neurosurgery
Title(s): Professor & Chairman
Best way to contact (e-mail, phone?): e-mail bergerm@neurosurg.ucsf.edu
Undergraduate & Graduate Degrees/Institutions: Harvard College - undergraduate University of Miami School of Medicine - M.D.
Clinical Interests/Duties: Neurosurgery Neuro-Oncology Pediatric Neurosurgery
Research Interests/Duties: Molecular markers and outcome with brain tumors Drug delivery to brain tumors Language organization in the brain

Career Information

1. What can students do in the 1st and 2nd years to explore and/or prepare for this career? Meet with neurosurgical faculty and residents, to learn about careers and the lifestyle

2. What common variations exist in the length/content of residency programs for this career? Very little variation

3. What common variations exist in this career after training? Different types of fellowships

4. What is a typical work day for you (or someone else representative)? Start with patient rounds and meetings Go to the O.R. 2-3 days per week Clinic and administrative duties the other 2 days

5. What is the "culture" of this career? Culture is hard work, long hours and great fulfillment

6. How compatible is this career with raising a family? How is this different for men and women? It is difficult to time-manage. Nights and weekends must be protected

7. How important, individually, are each the following for admission to a competitive program:

a.Extra-curricular/volunteer work? Very important
b. Research/publications? Extremely important
c. Honors in third year? OK
d. AOA? OK
e. A sub-internship? Very important
f. An externship? Very important
g. (Other important elements to the application?) Research experience - the extra year is quite valuable

8. What are the most important qualities or character traits for a person in this field? Hard work, focused, likes a challenge

9. How competitive are the residency programs in this field? Very competitive. About 10% of residency applicants don't match.

10. How competitive is the job market after residency?

11. What programs would you consider to be in the 1st tier, 2nd tier, and 3rd tier? This varies. Please see me for details.

12. What resources (web, books, etc, besides the AMA and AAMC sites) would you recommend for students interested in learning more about this field? Talk to our residents and faculty