Description
Physician who diagnoses, manages, and treats disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves with a primarily nonsurgical focus.
- • Contribute to neuroscience research.
- • Teach and mentor medical students and staff.
- • Engage in continuing medical education.
- • Supervise neurodiagnostic and therapeutic technicians.
- • Counsel patients and families on neurological conditions, risks, and genetics.
- • Interpret neuroimaging studies (MRI, SPECT, PET).
- • Refer patients to other specialists as needed.
- • Advise other physicians on neurological care.
- • Prescribe neurologic medications and monitor for cognitive or behavioral side effects.
- • Provide neuromodulation therapies (TMS, VNS, DBS).
- • Document histories, exam findings, treatment plans, and outcomes.
- • Deliver subspecialty care (sleep, neuroimmunology, neuro-oncology, behavioral neurology, neurogenetics).
- • Order and interpret blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests.
- • Coordinate supportive services (physical therapy, nursing, social work).
- • Interview patients to obtain symptoms and medical and family histories.
- • Explain diagnoses, prognoses, and treatment options, including risks and costs.
- • Diagnose neurological conditions using exams, histories, and tests.
- • Develop individualized treatment plans considering age, comorbidities, risks, and costs.
- • Determine brain death using accepted protocols.
- • Communicate with the care team about patient status and plans.
- • Coordinate neurological services with multidisciplinary care.
- • Perform and interpret lumbar punctures, EEGs, EMGs, and nerve conduction studies.
- • Identify and treat CNS infections, trauma, dementia, stroke, and other neurologic disorders.
- • Examine neurological function (vision, strength, coordination, reflexes, sensation, language, cognition, mental status).
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
