Dr. Curtis Cripe has dedicated his career to a branch of medicine called neuropsychology, and throughout his career he has made huge strides in the treatment of his patients, improving lives and ensuring the very best care for his patients. During a recent medical conference I had the pleasure of watching Dr. Cripe give a keynote speech around Neuropsychology in terms of those who are looking at this as a career choice. If you have a passion for medicine and you feel that neuropsychology could be the place where you dedicate your time, here are the benefits of a career in this particular field of medicine.
What is Neuropsychology ?
Neuropsychology in both clinical and non-clinical settings looks at the relationship between the brain and the behaviors of the body. The theories and principles within this branch of medicine work on the diagnoses and the treatment of those who have suffered from brain injuries or those who have a disorder with regards to cerebral function.
Research Opportunities
Although we have made huge advancements in neurology as a whole, there is still so much that we just don’t know about the brain’s activity and impact on the body. With the field of neuropsychology, you will have the chance to get involved in some exciting and forward thinking research projects which can help to make even more advancements in this area of medicine. If you have a passion for the brain and how the mind works, this could be a career which gives you the opportunity to spend your days investigating and experimenting on new ideas and techniques to treat a variety of issues.
Varied Work
Another key benefit of career in neuropsychology is the wide variation of patients which you are going to encounter. The brain is incredibly intricate and given that it powers so many functions in the body, every function for that matter, the issues which are shown in those with injuries or disorders will differ from patient to patient.
Real Results
One of the biggest benefits which doctors count is being able to make a visible difference to their patients and this is something which will most definitely have when you embark on a career in neuropsychology. Through your work you will be helping patients with issues such as dementia, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and amnesia, and we have techniques and treatments which can make a significant and visible difference to the lives of these patients. For this reason thesis a very personally rewarding career choice.
Compensation
Neuropsychologists are well compensated for their hard and important work which they do and currently the average starting salary for a doctor in this field is around the $90,000 mark. There are also a lot of employment opportunities in this field because of its highly specialist nature which gives you the scope to work in different regions and for different hospitals, gaining experience and valuable knowledge along the way.
Neuropsychology offers a rewarding and interested career for anyone who loves medicine and the inner workings of the brain.