Not just any physician – clinical neurophysiology offers physicians a different kind of work
Jukka Vanhanen specializes in the treatment of difficult-to-manage epilepsy. At its most severe, epilepsy can significantly limit a patient’s life.
When Jukka Vanhanen, a Specialist in Clinical Neurophysiology, was considering his possible specialty during his studies, neurology and especially its diagnostic element intrigued him the most.
“So little clinical neurophysiology was taught to us in medical school that I couldn't even remember the existence of the whole specialty,” Vanhanen laughs.
However, an acquaintance tipped him off to clinical neurophysiology and Vanhanen did as he was told.
“I read a textbook on clinical neurophysiology. This led me to become interested in this specialty and I contacted the Clinical Neurophysiology Department at HUS.”
The contact led to a specialization residency, and I have never regretted my choice.
“From the first week, I knew I had made the right choice”.
This was more than 10 years ago and Vanhanen has been a Specialist in Clinical Neurophysiology at the New Children’s Hospital for about five years now.
At the interface between research and patient care
Vanhanen likes the fact that his job allows him to look for narrowly defined answers to narrowly defined questions. According to Vanhanen, a specialist in clinical neurophysiology must have skills in logical reasoning and problem solving.
The specialty also attracts the right mix of analytical work and patient contact.
“I find it interesting to know how people and their nervous systems work. I could have also studied to be a brain researcher, but I wanted my work to include patient encounters.”
The New Children’s Hospital is also involved in research on adult patients with difficult-to-manage epilepsy. Vanhanen specializes specifically in the treatment of difficult-to-manage epilepsy and spends most of his time working with research on these patients.
“I also conduct some basic studies, such as EEG studies as outpatient procedures. These are also often linked to suspected epilepsy.”
During his working day, Vanhanen typically monitors and analyses patients’ examinations and writes a report on them to the physician in charge of their care.
“The job description is similar to work in radiology, so I don’t see patients very much myself.”
Demanding cases are rewarding
An important part of Vanhanen’s work are the multi-professional meetings that deal with the most demanding cases.
“The most demanding cases are both the most challenging and the best part of the job. Cases can be so rare that it can be difficult to find them even in the literature.”
The most demanding cases also involve a lot of responsibility.
“At its most severe, epilepsy can significantly limit a patient’s life, so it really matters to them.”
Find your own specialty by experimenting
Another rewarding aspect of the job, according to Vanhanen, is the constant learning of new skills and the use of versatile methods.
He has also enjoyed development work, and that's a direction his career might take him one day. But for the time being, his current work offers enough to learn and challenge him.
For students considering their specialty, Vanhanen advises them to try different options, both clinical and diagnostic.
“It's only in practice that you finally see what a job in a particular field is like. For example, the job of a specialist in clinical neurophysiology is quite far from what a physician’s job is usually perceived to be.”