The AAMC (as part of our Specialty Perspectives series) recently sat down with Phabinly Gabriel, MD, to learn more about his work.
Dr. Gabriel is a neurosurgery resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He focuses on neurological conditions of the brain, spine, peripheral nerve, and cerebrovascular disease. Learn more about Dr. Gabriel and his specialty below.
Can you describe your work as a neurosurgeon?
I am a neurosurgery resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, focusing on neurological conditions of the brain, spine, peripheral nerve, and cerebrovascular disease.
What attracted you to neurosurgery?
My interest in neurosurgery was sparked in high school, when two neurosurgeons visited my biology class and I got to hold a brain for the first time. Being raised in Newark, NJ, as a son of a taxi driver, I had never been exposed to anything like it until that point. It was like a new world opened up to me. I knew then that I wanted to study the brain in some capacity.
During college, while pursuing a neuroscience degree, I became even more fascinated by how lesions in different areas of the brain can have such varied consequences for a patient's neurological function. I later learned that Haiti, my parents’ homeland, has fewer than five neurosurgeons for a population of more than 12 million people. The idea that access to surgery could profoundly change the course of someone's health trajectory; I found that deeply inspiring, and I still do!
What’s something that would surprise people about your day-to-day?
Those with no prior exposure to neurosurgery are surprised by how early I start my day. Usually, I’m up between 3:30 and 4 a.m. When it comes to those who are premed, they often assume that neurosurgery residency is all about operating, but a significant portion of the day goes into planning procedures, consulting with patients and families, and collaborating with other providers. There is a lot of cross-collaboration and continued learning involved in our day.
What parts of your job do you find most challenging? What parts do you find most rewarding?
The hours are long, and that takes a direct toll on family and social life. That's probably the most consistent challenge, still wanting to be an attentive spouse and a good friend. Then, there's also the emotional weight of caring for patients who are critically ill, often with a poor prognosis, who are placing enormous trust in your team to offer a solution. The reality is that, in some cases, surgery extends quality of life without fully treating the disease. Learning to hold that, and stay balanced to show up fully for each and every patient, is something you have to work at.
But the most rewarding part is the experience of operating itself. The anatomy is fascinating, and there's something so satisfying about learning a craft that demands a high level of technical precision. When a patient does well after a complex surgery, it’s the reason the sacrifices and challenges start to feel all worth it. It’s an opportunity to make a real difference, which is special.
How would you describe someone who would excel in a career in neurosurgery?
Discipline and the ability to stay calm under pressure are essential. You also need stamina, perseverance, and strong attention to detail. This work demands exceptional focus and precision, but neurosurgeons also need a real capacity for empathy. We're caring for patients and families through some of the most serious and life-altering conditions a person can face in their entire lifetime. And the field simultaneously requires you to be mentally and physically tough enough to push through demanding training and a rigid schedule.
But I also want to stress here that these aren't qualities you either naturally have or just don't have, because they can be developed over time with resilience, intention, and commitment to discipline. If neurosurgery truly interests you, don't let the perception of the field, or opinions of others, discourage you from pursuing it as a specialty.
Are there any resources that focus on neurosurgery that our audience should be aware of?
I am indebted to the support of the American Society of Black Neurosurgeons, its President Dr. Ernest J. Barthélemy and other members. Women in Neurosurgery is also doing important work advancing representation and support for women in the field. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) are the two major associations, and both are worth getting familiar with early. I also follow and look up to several neurosurgeons who are active on social media and engaged in education and advocacy, such as Dr. Zayed Almadidy, Dr. Rupa Juthani, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, to name a few.
Can you share a case or project you’ve found especially rewarding?
One recent case from my residency training has stayed with me. I was assisting with resecting a glioblastoma in an eloquent area of the brain, and it was a particularly vascular tumor, which meant the surgical field was frequently obscured by blood. It was rewarding not just because of the pathology, but because it was one of the first times I was so directly involved in such a complex case, from start to finish.
My attending was teaching me throughout the case, and he explained something that will stay with me in training and beyond: that a neurosurgeon has to learn how to "see through blood" when resecting difficult tumors, how to visualize the boundary between tumor and brain despite limited visibility. You have to work hard to develop that kind of millimeter-by-millimeter precision.
The idea of mastering such technical excellence has always been exciting to me. When the patient did well post-operatively, I felt like I could finally exhale. Being so closely involved in every aspect of that surgery gave me a real sense of the gravity of this profession and made me more motivated than ever to keep advancing in my training.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with premeds?
Develop a long-term vision and learn how to face setbacks early on. Studying and building your knowledge base matters, but so does knowing how to bounce back when things don't go the way you planned or hoped for. Growth is gradual and often uncomfortable. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn something, if you are open to receiving the lesson. Medicine will test your commitment at every stage of your training. Developing a disciplined mindset, seeking mentorship early in your career, and cultivating patience with the process is paramount.
To learn more about Dr. Gabriel and his work, you can follow his educational content on Instagram and TiKTok.