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Woodfield J, Copley PC, Hughes M, Edlmann E. The gender gap in European neurosurgical conference presentations. Neurosurg Focus 2021; 50:E7. [PMID: 33789241 DOI: 10.3171/2020.12.focus20885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Within neurosurgery, there are fewer women than men at all levels. The authors aimed to assess whether opportunities and representation within neurosurgery are proportional to the existing gender gap. METHODS The authors analyzed the program of the 2019 joint European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS)/Society of British Neurological Surgeons (SBNS) conference to assess the proportions of presentations given through abstract submission and invitation by men and women. They compared proportions to the previous joint conference in 2007 and to the gender proportions of board-certified European neurosurgeons. RESULTS Women delivered 75/577 (13%) presentations at the 2019 EANS/SBNS conference: 54/283 (19%) abstract submissions and 21/294 (7%) invited presentations. Fifteen of 152 (10%) session chairs were women. This increased significantly from 4/121 (3%) presentations delivered by women in 2007. When only presentations given by neurosurgeons (residents or consultants) were analyzed, the proportion of female speakers increased from 1/111 (1%) in 2007 to 60/545 (11%) in 2019. Pediatrics was the subspecialty with the highest proportion of invited female speakers. Across subspecialties, there were no differences in gender proportions for presentations from abstract submissions. Across the top 5 participating European countries, the proportion of female invited speakers (8%) and chairs (8%) was half the proportion of female board-certified neurosurgeons (16%). CONCLUSIONS The proportion of women delivering invited presentations and chairing sessions at a European neurosurgical conference is lower than expected from the available pool of board-certified neurosurgeons. The proportion of women participating is higher through application (abstract submission) than through invitation. The higher proportion of presentations from abstract submission may reflect submission from a pool of trainees with a higher proportion of women. The authors suggest implementation of strategies that increase invited speakers from minority groups and have been shown to be effective in other disciplines, such as improving minority group representation in organizing committees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Woodfield
- 1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh.,2Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh
| | | | - Mark Hughes
- 1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh.,2Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh
| | - Ellie Edlmann
- 3Southwest Neurosurgical Centre, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth; and.,4University of Plymouth Faculty of Health: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth, United Kingdom
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Amarouche M, Uberti M, Evans GYHR, Singh N. Women in neurosurgery: where does the United Kingdom stand? Neurosurg Focus 2021; 50:E14. [PMID: 33789224 DOI: 10.3171/2020.12.focus20957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Despite over half of medical students in the United Kingdom (UK) being female, women represent only a small proportion of the workforce in the traditional "male" specialties, including neurosurgery. There is increasing global attention to and awareness of gender discrimination in the workplace across several industries, including health care. The authors set out to explore the opinions and attitudes of UK neurosurgeons and neurosurgery trainees on gender issues via a large-scale national survey. The results highlight key perceptions and gaps in mentorship and leadership and provide ideas for change. This should be used as a foundation to delve deeper and to address specific questions in order to achieve a fairer, more meritocratic environment in which neurosurgeons can thrive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriem Amarouche
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, John Radcliffe University Hospital, Oxford
| | - Micaela Uberti
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, St. George's University Hospital, London; and
| | | | - Navneet Singh
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, St. George's University Hospital, London; and
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53
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Karekezi C, Thango N, Aliu-Ibrahim SA, Bechri H, You Broalet EM, Bougrine M, Cheserem JB, Mbaye M, Shabhay ZA, Tighilt N, Bakhti S, El Abbadi N. History of African women in neurosurgery. Neurosurg Focus 2021; 50:E15. [PMID: 33789234 DOI: 10.3171/2020.12.focus20905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The number of women in the medical field has increased in Africa over the last few decades, yet the underrepresentation of women within neurosurgery has been a recurrent theme. Of all surgical disciplines, neurosurgery is among the least equitable, and the rate of increase in female surgeons lags behind other surgical disciplines such as general surgery. This historical review provides an overview of the history of women in neurosurgery and their current status on the African continent. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first article to provide such an overview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Karekezi
- 1Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Nqobile Thango
- 2Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Hajar Bechri
- 4Neurosurgery Department, ONO Hospital, Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Education, Rabat Medical School, Mohammed Vth University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco
| | | | - Mouna Bougrine
- 6Department of Neurosurgery, Cheikh Zaid International University Hospital, Abulcasis International University of Health Sciences, Rabat, Morocco
| | | | - Maguette Mbaye
- 8Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Fann Teaching Hospital, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Zarina Ali Shabhay
- 9Neurosurgery Department, Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and
| | - Nabila Tighilt
- 10Department of Neurosurgery, Ali Ait Idir Specialized Hospital, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Souad Bakhti
- 10Department of Neurosurgery, Ali Ait Idir Specialized Hospital, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Najia El Abbadi
- 6Department of Neurosurgery, Cheikh Zaid International University Hospital, Abulcasis International University of Health Sciences, Rabat, Morocco
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54
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Sadler SJ, Yuki Ip HK, Kim E, Karekezi C, Robertson FC. Investing in the future: a call for strategies to empower and expand representation of women in neurosurgery worldwide. Neurosurg Focus 2021; 50:E8. [PMID: 33789242 DOI: 10.3171/2020.12.focus20963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
As progress is gradually being made toward increased representation and retention of women in neurosurgery, the neurosurgical community should elevate effective efforts that may be driving positive change. Here, the authors describe explicit efforts by the neurosurgery community to empower and expand representation of women in neurosurgery, among which they identified four themes: 1) formal mentorship channels; 2) scholarships and awards; 3) training and exposure opportunities; and 4) infrastructural approaches. Ultimately, a data-driven approach is needed to improve representation and empowerment of women in neurosurgery and to best direct the neurosurgical community's efforts across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ho Kei Yuki Ip
- 2Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Eliana Kim
- 3University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Claire Karekezi
- 4Department of Neurosurgery, Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda; and
| | - Faith C Robertson
- 5Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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55
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Emery E. Women in neurosurgery: Historical vignette and current issues in France. Neurochirurgie 2021; 68:143-145. [PMID: 33529693 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2021.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E Emery
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Caen, Caen Normandie University, avenue Côte-de-Nacre, 14000 Caen cédex 9, France.
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56
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Graziano F, Gerardi RM, Scalia G, Cammarata G, Nicoletti GF, Chaurasia B, Umana GE. Women in Neurosurgery: From a Matter of Fortuitous Occasions Toward a Conscious Choice. World Neurosurg 2021; 148:129-135. [PMID: 33515798 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.01.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicine has made progress toward gender equality and has achieved almost equal distribution between men and women among graduates. However, more still needs to be done because most surgical subspecialties are still lacking adequate female representation and this persisting gender gap is particularly evident in both practical neurosurgery and the academic world. Gradual advancements have enabled a few women to pursue a successful career in neurologic surgery, pairing clinical practice with mentoring and involvement in academic research. These efforts show that more needs to be done to bridge the historic and current gap, which has recently aroused increasing interest among the neurosurgical community through internationally relevant studies. In neurosurgical societies worldwide, the existence of gender-related issues and women-reserved sections has started to attract attention and recognition on how to properly address this issue among present and future neurosurgeons. METHODS In this study, we discuss the timeline of women's road to gaining their place in neurosurgery, inspired by Hippocrates' motto "Declare the past, diagnose the present, foretell the future." Although neurosurgery had been traditionally considered too difficult a subject in which to engage, the first female neurosurgeons challenged themselves in this field, previously reserved only for men, at a time when society was not yet ready to embrace women's presence. Their successes paved the way for future generations of women, progressively shedding light on complex themes such as peer considerations, difficulty in reaching academic positions, and work-life balance. RESULTS Our aim is to analyze the historic reasons for inequality among men and women, which might be found in the themes of personal choice and willingness, aside from cultural bias or stereotypically based thinking. CONCLUSIONS Accordingly, if the difference in numbers were considered a reality related to personal inclination, perhaps, nobody would pay attention to this topic and the presence of even a few women in neurosurgery would be considered less strange. By thinking along those lines on a daily basis, we could all simply write about the history of valuable neurosurgeons in the past, present, and future without any distinction between men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Graziano
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences, and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Neurosurgery, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; Department of Neurosurgery, Highly Specialized Hospital and of National Importance "Garibaldi", Catania, Italy.
| | - Rosa Maria Gerardi
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences, and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Neurosurgery, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gianluca Scalia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Highly Specialized Hospital and of National Importance "Garibaldi", Catania, Italy
| | - Giacomo Cammarata
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences, and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Neurosurgery, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni F Nicoletti
- Department of Neurosurgery, Highly Specialized Hospital and of National Importance "Garibaldi", Catania, Italy
| | - Bipin Chaurasia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bangladesh State Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Giuseppe E Umana
- Department of Neurosurgery, Trauma Center, Gamma Knife Center, Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania, Italy
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57
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Kanmounye US, Zolo Y, Tsopmene MRD, Nguembu S, Ndajiwo AB, Abdifatah K, Sichimba D, Sallah AY, Endalle G, Kaduyu R, Chege KK, Takoukam R, Hasheela T, Bankole NDA, Kabulo KDM, Tétinou F, Nitcheu IA, Ibe CS, Nyalundja AD, Djiofack D, Takoutsing BD, Ghomsi NC. Understanding the motivations, needs, and challenges faced by aspiring neurosurgeons in Africa: an E-survey. Br J Neurosurg 2020; 36:38-43. [PMID: 33349070 DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2020.1862053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Three million African patients need a neurosurgical consultation every year, but there are not enough neurosurgeons to meet this need. Efforts have been made to increase the neurosurgical capacity through the creation of training programs in Africa. Although these programs have been successful, there is still a long way to go. Aspiring African neurosurgeons (AANs) will become neurosurgeons in the future if they are given the resources and opportunities. The authors set out to understand the perceptions, needs, and difficulties faced by AANs. METHODS An e-survey containing 45 questions was created using Google Forms and distributed via social media. The survey was anonymous, and it was distributed from June 2, 2020, to June 16, 2020. Summary descriptive statistics and the Chi-Square test were calculated. The p-value was considered to be significant below .05. RESULTS A total of 221 AANs aged 23.5 ± 3.3 years and from 22 African countries responded to the survey. Most were male (66.1%) and medical students (84.6%). Few had assisted a neurosurgical intervention in-person (24.9%), had a mentor (29.0%) or attended a journal club (10.3%). A small proportion was unwilling to train in their home country (19.5%) or a neighboring country (16.3%). The top three reasons for choosing neurosurgery were prestige, advice from a family member, and projected income. Also, respondents felt neurosurgery was expensive. CONCLUSION AANs are passionate about neurosurgery but lack the information, guidance, or opportunities to fulfil their wish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrick Sidney Kanmounye
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Bel Campus University of Technology, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Yvan Zolo
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Marvin Richie Dongmo Tsopmene
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Department, Felix Houphouet Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Stéphane Nguembu
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Faculty of Medicine, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Université des Montagnes, Bangangté, Cameroon
| | - Aliyu Baba Ndajiwo
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Surgery Department, General Hospital Minna, Minna, Nigeria
| | - Khalif Abdifatah
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Department, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Dawin Sichimba
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Aminata Yandeh Sallah
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Unity, Department of Surgery, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Geneviève Endalle
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Robert Kaduyu
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Kennedy Kimani Chege
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Régis Takoukam
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Department, Felix Houphouet Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Toivo Hasheela
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Unity, Department of Surgery, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Nourou Dine Adeniran Bankole
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Surgical and Medico-surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Kantenga Dieu Merci Kabulo
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Unity, Department of Surgery, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Francklin Tétinou
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Faculty of Medicine, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Université des Montagnes, Bangangté, Cameroon
| | - Igor Ayiodjeu Nitcheu
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Department, Felix Houphouet Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Chidiebere Sunday Ibe
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Chemistry Department, University of Uyo City, Uyo, , Nigeria
| | - Arsène Daniel Nyalundja
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Dylan Djiofack
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Faculty of Medicine, Higher Institute of Medical Technology, Nkolondom, Cameroon
| | - Berjo Dongmo Takoutsing
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Nathalie Christelle Ghomsi
- Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Neurosurgery Department, Felix Houphouet Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
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Feng R, Hoffman SE, Wagner K, Ullman JS, Stippler M, Germano IM. Women Neurosurgeons in Academic and Other Leadership Positions in the United States. World Neurosurg 2020; 147:80-88. [PMID: 33358734 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.12.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide the status of women neurosurgeons (WNS) in academic faculty and/or leadership positions in neurosurgery in the United States. METHODS Neurosurgery academic programs were defined as having an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) neurosurgery residency program (NSRP). Using a Google search, gender, academic rank, postgraduate degrees, academic and clinical titles, and subspecialty were recorded for each neurosurgery faculty. Officer gender was recorded for the top 7 neurosurgery U.S. organizations, 7 subspecialty sections, and 50 state neurosurgical societies. RESULTS WNS were faculty at 77% (89/115) of ACGME NSRPs and constituted 10% of the workforce (186/1773). WNS residents were in 92% of ACGME NSRPs and constituted 19% of the workforce (293/1515). Two NSRPs (8%) had neither WNS faculty nor WNS residents. Of NSRPs without WNS faculty, 52% (13/25) had a faculty size >10. WNS accounted for 3% of NSRP chair positions. Academic rank of WNS faculty was lower than academic rank of men neurosurgeons faculty (P < 0.05). WNS faculty had a higher number of postgraduate degrees (P < 0.05). Pediatrics was the most common subspecialty (30%) among WNS. Over time, WNS held 1% of the leadership positions within the top 7 U.S. neurosurgery organizations and 7% within the 7 subspecialty sections. Over the past 20 years, 28% (14/50) of U.S. state neurosurgical societies had WNS serve as president. CONCLUSIONS In 2020, the gender gap for U.S. WNS faculty and residents still exists. By providing informed benchmarks, our study might help neurosurgery organizations, medical school leadership, hiring committees, editors, and conference speakers to plan their next steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Feng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Katherine Wagner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Jamie S Ullman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Martina Stippler
- Division of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Isabelle M Germano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
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Sabourin S, Omoruan M, Khazen O, DiMarzio M, Sofatzis T, Staples S, Feustel PJ, Petersen E, Casini G, Spinoza ZT, Pilitsis JG. Diversity in Neuromodulators: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go. Neuromodulation 2020; 23:145-149. [PMID: 32103592 DOI: 10.1111/ner.13114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shelby Sabourin
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Moje Omoruan
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Olga Khazen
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Marisa DiMarzio
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Tia Sofatzis
- International Neuromodulation Society, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Staples
- International Neuromodulation Society, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Staples, Etc., LLC, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Paul J Feustel
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Erika Petersen
- International Neuromodulation Society, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Gianna Casini
- International Neuromodulation Society, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Pain Management, Parkview Physician's Group, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
| | - Zulma T Spinoza
- International Neuromodulation Society, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Upstate University Hospital, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Julie G Pilitsis
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.,International Neuromodulation Society, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA
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Bandyopadhyay S, Moudgil-Joshi J, Norton EJ, Haq M, Saunders KEA. Motivations, barriers, and social media: a qualitative study of uptake of women into neurosurgery. Br J Neurosurg 2020; 36:19-25. [PMID: 33215936 DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2020.1849555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore how social media could be utilised to influence an individual's motivation to pursue a neurosurgical career, an emerging topic area. The focus of this study was on women interested in neurosurgery. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Women are significantly under-represented in neurosurgery. 18% of all neurosurgeons - including 8% of consultants - are women. Most previous studies have used quantitative methods that are not best suited to gaining an in-depth understanding of the barriers that women face in pursuing a career in neurosurgery, or what would enable more women to go into the speciality. METHODS In this qualitative study, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. Participants were women pre-neurosurgical trainees. The interview data was examined through a thematic analysis involving open and axial coding. RESULTS Thirty women participated in the study. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) mentorship, (2) testimony from other women doing neurosurgery, (3) social media as a means of increasing interest in neurosurgery as a career choice, and (4) real-life exposure to the speciality. CONCLUSION There is scope to further improve uptake of women into neurosurgical training in the UK. Motivations and barriers to women pursuing neurosurgery should be addressed openly through early experience, role models and mentorship. Social media can help facilitate these opportunities, disseminate information and inspiration, and has the potential to undo societal biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soham Bandyopadhyay
- Oxford University Global Surgery Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Emma Jane Norton
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Bury St Edmunds, UK.,Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Makinah Haq
- GKT School of Medical Education, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Kate E A Saunders
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Mahajan UV, Wadhwa H, Fatemi P, Xu S, Shan J, Benzil DL, Zygourakis CC. Does double-blind peer review impact gender authorship trends? An evaluation of two leading neurosurgical journals from 2010 to 2019. J Neurosurg 2020; 135:352–360. [PMID: 33186905 DOI: 10.3171/2020.6.jns20902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Publications are key for advancement within academia. Although women are underrepresented in academic neurosurgery, the rates of women entering residency, achieving board certification, and publishing papers are increasing. The goal of this study was to assess the current status of women in academic neurosurgery publications. Specifically, this study sought to 1) survey female authorship rates in the Journal of Neurosurgery (JNS [not including JNS: Spine or JNS: Pediatrics]) and Neurosurgery from 2010 to 2019; 2) analyze whether double-blind peer review (started in Neurosurgery in 2011) altered female authorship rates relative to single-blind review (JNS); and 3) evaluate how female authorship rates compared with the number of women entering neurosurgery residency and obtaining neurosurgery board certification. METHODS Genders of the first and last authors for JNS and Neurosurgery articles from 2010 to 2019 were obtained. Data were also gathered on the number and percentage of women entering neurosurgery residency and women obtaining American Board of Neurological Surgeons (ABNS) certification between 2010 and 2019. RESULTS Women accounted for 13.4% (n = 570) of first authors and 6.8% (n = 240) of last authors in JNS and Neurosurgery publications. No difference in rates of women publishing existed between the two journals (first authors: 13.0% JNS vs 13.9% Neurosurgery, p = 0.29; last authors: 7.3% JNS vs 6.0% Neurosurgery, p = 0.25). No difference existed between women first or last authors in Neurosurgery before and after initiation of double-blind review (p = 0.066). Significant concordance existed between the gender of first and last authors: in publications with a woman last author, the odds of the first author being a woman was increased by twofold (OR 2.14 [95% CI 1.43-3.13], p = 0.0001). Women represented a lower proportion of authors of invited papers (8.6% of first authors and 3.1% of last authors were women) compared with noninvited papers (14.1% of first authors and 7.4% of last authors were women) (first authors: OR 0.576 [95% CI 0.410-0.794], p = 0.0004; last authors: OR 0.407 [95% CI 0.198-0.751], p = 0.001). The proportion of women US last authors (7.4%) mirrors the percentage of board-certified women neurosurgeons (5.4% in 2010 and 6.8% in 2019), while the percentage of women US first authors (14.3%) is less than that for women entering neurosurgical residency (11.2% in 2009 and 23.6% in 2018). CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of female authorship in the neurosurgical literature. The authors found that single- versus double-blind peer review did not impact female authorship rates at two top neurosurgical journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uma V Mahajan
- 1School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Harsh Wadhwa
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Parastou Fatemi
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Samantha Xu
- 1School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Judy Shan
- 3University of California at Berkeley, California; and
| | | | - Corinna C Zygourakis
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Kondziolka
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York; and
| | - Linda M Liau
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Health, University of California at Los Angeles, California
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De La Peña NM, Richter KR, Haglin JM, Pollock JR, Richter RA, Kouloumberis PE. Differences by Practice Year in Numbers of U.S. Female Neurosurgeons. World Neurosurg 2020; 145:363-367. [PMID: 33068801 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.10.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the proportion and number of female neurosurgeons in the workforce at different stages of practice. METHODS The Physician Compare National Downloadable File data set was obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for physicians who indicated "neurosurgery" as their primary specialty. Physician duplicates, physicians with no listed medical school graduation year, and physicians expected to be in residency (graduation years 2013-2019) were removed, yielding 4956 neurosurgeons. Five-year intervals were used to measure the number of male and female neurosurgeons by different stages of their careers. For example, graduates from years 2008-2012 were expected to be in their first 1-5 years of practice. RESULTS There were 405 female (8.2%) and 4551 male (91.8%) neurosurgeons. At 1-5 years of practice, 13.8% (105/760) were women; 6-10 years, 11.5% (94/820) women; 11-15 years, 8.9% (64/720) women; 16-20 years, 8.7% (59/682) women; 21-25 years, 7.4% (46/619) women; 26-30 years, 3.8% (20/520) women; 31-35 years, 3.6% (15/413) women; and 36 years or more, 0.5% women (2/422). The number of female neurosurgeons varied among states, ranging from 0 in Hawaii to 53 in California. The states with the lowest percentage of female neurosurgeons were Hawaii (0%), Oklahoma (3.1%), and Nevada (3.6%). The states with the highest percentage of female neurosurgeons were New Hampshire (20.0%), Vermont (16.7%), and Rhode Island (15.8%). CONCLUSIONS The number of practicing female neurosurgeons within the United States is increasing, as shown by the growing percentage of women who are earlier in their surgical careers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kent R Richter
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Jack M Haglin
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
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Behmer Hansen RT, Silva NA, Cuevas R, Cerasiello SY, Richardson AM, Mammis A, Nanda A. Fellowship, gender, and scholarly productivity: trends among academic neurosurgeons in the US. J Neurosurg 2020; 135:185-193. [PMID: 32858514 DOI: 10.3171/2020.5.jns20577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Current data on fellowship choice and completion by neurosurgical residents are limited, especially in relation to gender, scholarly productivity, and career progression. The objective of this study was to determine gender differences in the selection of fellowship training and subsequent scholarly productivity and career progression. METHODS The authors conducted a quantitative analysis of the fellowship training information of practicing US academic neurosurgeons. Information was extracted from publicly available websites, the Scopus database, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments website. RESULTS Of 1641 total academic neurosurgeons, 1403 (85.5%) were fellowship trained. There were disproportionately more men (89.9%) compared to women (10.1%). A higher proportion of women completed fellowships than men (p = 0.004). Proportionally, significantly more women completed fellowships in pediatrics (p < 0.0001), neurooncology (p = 0.012), and critical care/trauma (p = 0.001), while significantly more men completed a spine fellowship (p = 0.012). Within those who were fellowship trained, the academic rank of professor was significantly more commonly held by men (p = 0.001), but assistant professor was held significantly more often by women (p = 0.017). The fellowships with the largest mean h-indices were functional/stereotactic, pediatrics, and critical care/trauma. Despite more women completing neurooncology and pediatric fellowships, men had significantly greater h-indices in these subspecialties compared to women. Women had more industry funding awards than men in pediatrics (p < 0.0001), while men had more in spine (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS Women were found to have higher rates for fellowship completion compared with their male counterparts, yet had lower scholarly productivity in every subspecialty. Fellowship choice remains unequally distributed between genders, and scholarly productivity and career progression varies between fellowship choice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicole A Silva
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Rebecca Cuevas
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Samantha Y Cerasiello
- 3Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois
| | - Angela M Richardson
- 5Department of Neurosurgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Antonios Mammis
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Anil Nanda
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
- 4Department of Neurosurgery, Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health, Livingston, New Jersey; and
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Kearns KN, Chen CJ, Jane JA, Kalani Y, Shaffrey ME, Park MS. Gender-Pay Equity in Academic Neurosurgery at United States Public Universities. Cureus 2020; 12:e8655. [PMID: 32685320 PMCID: PMC7366046 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.8655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Compensation has historically been unequal for men versus women in medical fields, particularly in surgical subspecialties. Objective We analyzed associations between gender and compensation and identified factors associated with compensation among male and female academic neurosurgeons in the United States (US) public institutions. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of available data for the 2016-2017 fiscal years associated with male and female neurosurgical faculty from public, academic institutions within the US. The data used for analysis included total annual salary, which consisted of the base salary and additional compensation. Other gleaned data included faculty demographics, training, and academic appointments. The male and female neurosurgeons' data were separated into two respective gender groups and then were compared. Predictors of compensation were identified using univariable and non-imputed and multiply-imputed multivariable statistical models. Results The cohort was comprised of 460 neurosurgery faculty members (female n=34; male n=426). Total annual salaries were comparable between the genders. Females were more likely to be younger (p=0.001), to have completed neurosurgery training recently (p=0.003), to have had fellowship training (p=0.011), and to have lower h-indices (p=0.003) compared to males. Males and females differed in academic ranks (p=0.035) and neurosurgical subspecialties (p=0.038). Midwest (a\begin{document}\beta\end{document})=-US$337,516.7, p=0.002), South (a\begin{document}\beta\end{document}=-US$302,500.5, p=0.003), and West (a\begin{document}\beta\end{document}=-US$276,848.8, p=0.005) practices were independent predictors of lower annual compensation. Chair position (a\begin{document}\beta\end{document}=US$174,180.3, p=0.019) and associate professorship (a\begin{document}\beta\end{document}=US$126,633.4, p=0.037) were independent predictors of higher annual compensation. Gender was not a significant predictor of total annual compensation. Conclusions Total salaries were not different between male and female neurosurgeons in public, academic institutions in the US. Gender was not a significant predictor of total annual compensation. This study is applicable to public institutions in states with Freedom of Information Act reporting requirements.
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Silva NA, Cerasiello SY, Behmer Hansen RT, Liu JK, Eloy JA. Letter to the Editor Regarding “Investigating the Gender Pay Gap in Industry Contributions to Academic Neurosurgeons”. World Neurosurg 2020; 138:574-575. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Women in Neurosurgery: Gender Differences in Authorship in High-Impact Neurosurgery Journals through the Last Two Decades. World Neurosurg 2020; 138:374-380. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Huq S, Khalafallah AM, Ishida W, Porras JL, Lee RP, Rincon-Torroella J, Wojtasiewicz T, Xu R, Cohen AR, Mukherjee D. Recruiting Medical Students to Neurosurgery Through a Focused Neuroanatomy Lab Initiative. World Neurosurg 2020; 137:e535-e546. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Gender Differences Between Male and Female Neurosurgeons: Is There Equality for All? World Neurosurg 2020; 136:348-356. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.11.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Pierce SK, Schwartzberg PL, Shah NN, Taylor N. Women in immunology: 2020 and beyond. Nat Immunol 2020; 21:254-258. [PMID: 32094649 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-020-0618-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Women have been at the forefront of tremendous achievements in immunology in the past decade. However, disparities still exist, limiting upward potential and further advancements. As four NIH intramural women scientists who care deeply about scientific progress and the progress of women in our field, we review ongoing challenges and discuss potential approaches to help advance the promotion of women in the sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan K Pierce
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Pamela L Schwartzberg
- Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Nirali N Shah
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Naomi Taylor
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA. .,IGMM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
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71
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Corley J, Kim E, Philips CA, Stippler M, Parr AM, Sweet J, Rosseau G. One hundred years of neurosurgery: contributions of American women. J Neurosurg 2020; 134:337-342. [PMID: 32059180 DOI: 10.3171/2019.12.jns192878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The end of the first 100 years of any endeavor is an appropriate time to look back and peer forward. As neurosurgery celebrates its 1st century as a specialty, the increasing role of women neurosurgeons is a major theme. This article documents the early women pioneers in neurosurgery. The contributions of these trailblazers to the origins, academics, and professional organizations of neurosurgery are highlighted. The formation of Women in Neurosurgery in 1989 is described, as is the important role this organization has played in introducing and promoting talented women in the profession. Contributions of women neurosurgeons to academic medicine and society as a whole are briefly highlighted. Contemporary efforts and initiatives indicate future directions in which women may lead neurosurgery in its 2nd century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn Corley
- 1Gender Equity Initiative in Global Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts
- 2Department of Neurological Surgery, Duke University Hospital, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Eliana Kim
- 1Gender Equity Initiative in Global Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts
- 3University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Chris Ann Philips
- 4American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Rolling Meadows, Illinois
| | - Martina Stippler
- 5Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ann M Parr
- 6Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Jennifer Sweet
- 7Department of Neurosurgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; and
| | - Gail Rosseau
- 1Gender Equity Initiative in Global Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts
- 8Department of Neurosurgery, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC
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A Questionnaire to Assess the Challenges Faced by Women Who Quit Working as Full-Time Neurosurgeons. World Neurosurg 2020; 133:331-342. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.08.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Enchev Y, Brady Z, Arif S, Encheva E, Peev N, Ahmad M. Sexual discrimination in neurosurgery: a questionnaire-based nationwide study amongst women neurosurgeons in Bulgaria. J Neurosurg Sci 2019; 66:133-138. [PMID: 31738029 DOI: 10.23736/s0390-5616.19.04814-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this qualitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was to identify potential factors influencing the progression of female neurosurgeons in Bulgaria. METHODS The study was conducted nationally, by sending out an online (SurveyMonkey®) questionnaire with 30 questions over a 3-month period to 15 registered female neurosurgeons in practice including residents/trainees and specialists from state universities, private universities and regional hospitals in Bulgaria. The questionnaire covered basic demographics, level of academic achievement and aspects of personal and professional experience, along with questions on the perceived barriers that female neurosurgeons nationally encountered during their clinical and academic career. These results were compared with similar studies conducted in other countries following a literature search on PUBMED. RESULTS Eleven out of fifteen respondents returned the completed survey, covering 10 institutions which included 8 university clinics and 2 regional clinics, achieving a response rate of 73.3%. No questionnaires were excluded. The factors negatively influencing the clinical and academic professional development and progression in the field included lack of mentors and other female role models, perceived bias regarding remuneration and leave, as well as a lack of support with regards to work-life balance and difficulty progressing in the academic fields. CONCLUSIONS Although there is an ever increasing and growing awareness of the factors negatively impacting women progression in neurosurgery worldwide, there are still significant gaps and biases that hinder career progression amongst female neurosurgical communities and highlight a need for potential practices to be established in the workplace to counteract this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yavor Enchev
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Varna, University Hospital "St. Marina", Varna, Bulgaria -
| | | | | | | | - Nikolay Peev
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Manal Ahmad
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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Dossani RH, Terrell D, Kosty JA, Ross RC, Demand A, Wild E, Peterson R, Ngwenya LB, Benzil DL, Notarianni C. Gender disparities in academic rank achievement in neurosurgery: a critical assessment. J Neurosurg 2019; 133:1922-1927. [PMID: 31703191 DOI: 10.3171/2019.8.jns191219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there are disparities in academic rank and promotion between men and women neurosurgeons. METHODS The profiles of faculty members from 50 academic neurosurgery programs were reviewed to identify years in practice, number of PubMed-indexed publications, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) attainment, and academic rank. The number of publications at each academic rank was compared between men and women after controlling for years in practice by using a negative binomial regression model. The relationship between gender and each academic rank was also determined after controlling for clustering at the institutional level, years in practice, and number of publications. RESULTS Of 841 faculty members identified, 761 (90%) were men (p = 0.0001). Women represented 12% of the assistant and associate professors but only 4% of the full professors. Men and women did not differ in terms of the percentage holding a PhD, years in practice, or number of publications at any academic rank. After controlling for years in practice and clustering at the facility level, the authors found that men were twice as likely as women to be named full professor (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.09-4.44, p = 0.03). However, when institution, years in practice, PhD attainment, h-index, and number of publications were considered, men and women were equally likely to attain full professorship (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.42-1.93). CONCLUSIONS Data analysis of the top neurosurgery programs suggests that although there are fewer women than men holding positions in academic neurosurgery, faculty rank attainment does not seem to be influenced by gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimal H Dossani
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Danielle Terrell
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Jennifer A Kosty
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Robert C Ross
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Audrey Demand
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Elizabeth Wild
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Racheal Peterson
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Laura B Ngwenya
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; and
| | - Deborah L Benzil
- 3Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Christina Notarianni
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
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75
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Investigating the Gender Pay Gap in Industry Contributions to Academic Neurosurgeons. World Neurosurg 2019; 130:516-522.e1. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.06.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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76
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Female Neurosurgeons in Europe—On a Prevailing Glass Ceiling. World Neurosurg 2019; 129:460-466. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.05.137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Jahangiri A, Flanigan PM, Arnush M, Chandra A, Rick JW, Choi S, Chou A, Berger MS, Aghi MK. From bench to bedside: trends in National Institutes of Health funding for neurosurgeons from 1991 to 2015. J Neurosurg 2019; 133:865-874. [PMID: 31470404 DOI: 10.3171/2019.1.jns181531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neurosurgeons play an important role in advancing medicine through research, the funding of which is historically linked to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The authors defined variables associated with neurosurgical NIH funding, prevalence of funded topics by neurosurgical subspecialty, and temporal trends in NIH neurosurgical funding. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective review of NIH-funded American Association of Neurological Surgeons members using NIH RePORTER (http://report.nih.gov/) for the years 1991-2015. RESULTS The authors followed 6515 neurosurgeons from 1991 to 2015, including 6107 (94%) non-MD-PhD physicians and 408 (6%) MD-PhDs. NIH grants were awarded to 393 (6%) neurosurgeons, with 23.2% of all first-time grants awarded to the top 5 funded institutions. The average total funded grant-years per funded neurosurgeon was 12.5 (range 1-85 grant-years). A higher percentage of MD-PhDs were NIH funded than MDs (22% [n = 91] vs 5% [n = 297], p < 0.0001). The most common grants awarded were R01 (128, 33%), K08 (69, 18%), F32 (60, 15%), M01 (50, 13%), and R21 (39, 10%). F32 and K08 recipients were 9-fold (18% vs 2%, p < 0.001) and 19-fold (38% vs 2%, p < 0.001) more likely to procure an R01 and procured R01 funding earlier in their careers (F32: 7 vs 12 years after residency, p = 0.03; K08: 9 vs 12 years, p = 0.01). Each year, the number of neurosurgeons with active grants linearly increased by 2.2 (R2 = 0.81, p < 0.001), whereas the number of total active grants run by neurosurgeons increased at nearly twice the rate (4.0 grants/year) (R2 = 0.91, p < 0.001). Of NIH-funded neurosurgical grants, 33 (9%) transitioned to funded clinical trial(s). Funded neurosurgical subspecialties included neuro-oncology (33%), functional/epilepsy (32%), cerebrovascular (17%), trauma (10%), and spine (6%). Finally, the authors modeled trends in the number of active training grants and found a linear increase in active R01s (R2 = 0.95, p < 0.001); however, both F32 (R2 = 0.36, p = 0.01) and K08 (R2 = 0.67, p < 0.001) funding had a significant parabolic rise and fall centered around 2003. CONCLUSIONS The authors observed an upward trend in R01s awarded to neurosurgeons during the last quarter century. However, their findings of decreased K08 and F32 training grant funding to neurosurgeons and the impact of these training grants on the ultimate success and time to success for neurosurgeons seeking R01 funding suggests that this upward trend in R01 funding for neurosurgeons will be difficult to maintain. The authors' work underscores the importance of continued selection and mentorship of neurosurgeons capable of impacting patient care through research, including the MD-PhDs, who are noted to be more represented among NIH-funded neurosurgeons.
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Sweet JA, Holanda VM, Rao G, Kalkanis SN, Sharan AD, Benzil DL. Letter: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Female International Think Tank Report: Much Progress, Still Work to Be Done. Neurosurgery 2019; 85:E599-E606. [DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyz254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Sweet
- Department of Neurosurgery University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Vanessa Milanese Holanda
- Center of Neurology and Neurosurgery Associates (NeuroCENNA) BP-A Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ganesh Rao
- Department of Neurosurgery The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, Texas
| | - Steven N Kalkanis
- Department of Neurosurgery Henry Ford Health System Detroit, Michigan
| | - Ashwini D Sharan
- Department of Neurosurgery Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Deborah L Benzil
- Department of Neurosurgery The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, Ohio
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Jung TY, Kim EY, Park MS. Herstory of the Korean Women Neurosurgical Society since 2008. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2019; 62:619-625. [PMID: 31295978 PMCID: PMC6835153 DOI: 10.3340/jkns.2019.0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Korean Women Neurosurgical Society (KWNS) was founded in 2008. To commemorate its 10th anniversary, herein we review its history and the status of Korean Neurosurgical Society (KNS)-certified women neurosurgeons. Based on the academic and social activity of the KWNS, we can expect to promote professional work as members of the KNS, facilitate interaction among neurosurgeons, and sustain professional careers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae-Young Jung
- Korean Women Neurosurgical Society, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Korea
| | - Eun-Young Kim
- Korean Women Neurosurgical Society, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Neurosurgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea
| | - Moon-Sun Park
- Korean Women Neurosurgical Society, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Neurosurgery, Eulji University Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
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80
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Gender Representation at Neurological Surgery Conferences. World Neurosurg 2019; 129:453-459. [PMID: 31212029 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.06.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women constitute a minority (9.2%) of academic neurosurgeons. We previously found that women in academic medicine are disadvantaged in funding and career advancement opportunities. We hypothesized that women are also underrepresented at neurosurgical society conferences. METHODS Programs from the 2014-2018 meetings of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), American Association of Neurological Surgery (AANS), and North American Skull Base Society (NASBS) were analyzed. Demographic data, including name, gender, and geographic region of practice, were collected for speaker, moderator, or leadership positions. χ2 statistical analysis was performed for difference in gender representation across all opportunity spots. RESULTS In the period 2014-2018, there was no female presidents or honored guest at any academic meetings analyzed; 53.8% of executive committees comprised all men. Women often constituted a minority (<15%) of speakers and moderators at CNS, AANS, and NASBS meetings: speakers (% female, range), 8.6 (5.5-11.7), 13.6 (10.1-19.7), and 10.5 (5.6-16.6); moderators (% female, range), 7.8 (0-14.3), 23.0 (81.3-91.3), and 13.0 (8.6-18.7). Conference panels frequently comprised all men (58% CNS, 20.7% AANS, 61% NASBS). χ2 analysis found a disparity in male and female participation across all opportunity spots (P = 0.002). Additionally, female participants are often repeated, decreasing total number of unique women participating. There was no significant increase in female participation across the study period. CONCLUSIONS In 2014-2018, underrepresentation of women in national neurosurgical conferences either matched or exceeded the baseline gender disparity seen in academic neurosurgery. We discussed potential causes of and strategies to address these findings.
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Somma T, Cappabianca P. Women in Neurosurgery: A Young Italian Neurosurgeon's Perspective. World Neurosurg 2019; 125:15-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.01.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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82
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Darwazeh R, Darwazeh M, Kato Y, Sbeih I, Bakhti S, El Abbadi N, Sun X, Chao Y. Georgette Kidess, the First Female Neurosurgeon in Palestine. World Neurosurg 2019; 124:414-422. [PMID: 30639486 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.12.163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to detail the background, training, and career of Dr. Georgette Kidess, the first and still the only female neurosurgeon in Palestine. In addition, we mention the obstacles that women face during their neurosurgical career and how to overcome them. Also, we discuss different methods to attract female medical students to neurosurgery. METHODS Information was gathered only from direct face-to-face interviews with Dr. Kidess. RESULTS Georgette Kidess was born on May 2, 1952, in Nablus, Palestine. She received the degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) at Eberhard Karls Universität, Tübingen, Germany in 1979. She worked as a neurosurgeon at the Hadassah EinKarem Hospital in Jerusalem and subsequently established the first neurosurgical department at the Ramallah Governmental Hospital in Ramallah in 1986. Thereafter, she has continued a career in private practice, currently at Saint Luke's Hospital, Nablus. Dr. Kidess played a major part in establishing neurosurgery in Palestine. She was among the founders of the Palestinian Neurosurgical Society in 2014. CONCLUSIONS In this article, we recount Dr. Kidess's contributions and achievements to neurosurgery in Palestine. Her commitment, persistence, and diligence enabled her to overcome great odds and become the first female neurosurgeon in Palestine. We hope that her story will inspire and open the doors for subsequent women to enter and enhance neurosurgery, especially in the Middle East.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rami Darwazeh
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China; Department of Neurosurgery, Arab Women's Union Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Mazhar Darwazeh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Arab Women's Union Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Yoko Kato
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Ibrahim Sbeih
- Department of Neurosurgery, Farah Medical Campus, Amman, Jordan
| | - Souad Bakhti
- Pediatric Neurosurgery Division, Academic Hospital Mustapha Pacha, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Najia El Abbadi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hôpital IbnSina, University Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Xiaochuan Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - You Chao
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China.
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83
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Shaikh AT, Farhan SA, Siddiqi R, Fatima K, Siddiqi J, Khosa F. Disparity in Leadership in Neurosurgical Societies: A Global Breakdown. World Neurosurg 2019; 123:95-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.11.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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84
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Female Medical Student Retention in Neurosurgery: A Multifaceted Approach. World Neurosurg 2019; 122:245-251. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.10.166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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85
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Ottenhausen M, Anetsberger S, Kleffmann J, Schuss P, Konczalla J, Krawagna M, Burkhardt JK, Reitz M, Xu R, Albers L, Ntoulias G, Meyer B, Joedicke A, Krieg SM. Risk Factors for Dropping Out of Neurosurgical Residency Programs—A Survey Study. World Neurosurg 2018; 120:e100-e106. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.07.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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86
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Affiliation(s)
- Liverana Lauretti
- Institute of Neurosurgery Polo Scienze dell’Invecchiamento, Neurologiche ortopediche e della Testa-Collo Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli- IRCCS Rome, Italy
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87
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Renfrow JJ, Wolfe SQ. In Reply: Tracking Career Paths of Women in Neurosurgery. Neurosurgery 2018; 84:E94. [DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyy478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn J Renfrow
- Department of Neurosurgery Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Stacey Quintero Wolfe
- Department of Neurosurgery Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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88
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Bibliometric Analysis of Gender Authorship Trends and Collaboration Dynamics Over 30 Years of Spine 1985 to 2015. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2018; 43:E849-E854. [PMID: 29438219 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000002562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN A bibliometric analysis. OBJECTIVE The aim of this article was to study bibliometric changes over the last 30 years of Spine. These trends are important regarding academic publication productivity. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Inflation in authorship number and other bibliometric variables has been described in the scientific literature. The issue of author gender is taking on increasing importance, as efforts are being made to close the gender gap. METHODS From 1985 to 2015, 10-year incremental data for several bibliometric variables were collected, including author gender. Standard bivariate statistical analyses were performed. Trends over time were assessed by the Cochran linear trend. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Inclusion criteria were met for 1566 manuscripts. The majority of the manuscripts were from North America (51.2%), Europe (25.2%), and Asia (20.8%). The number of manuscripts, authors, countries, pages, and references all increased from 1985 to 2015. There was a slight increase in female first authors over time (17.5% to 18.4%, P = 0.048). There was no gender change over time for corresponding authors (14.3% to 14.0%, P = 0.29). There was an 88% increase in the percentage of female first authors having male corresponding authors (P = 0.00004), and a 123% increase in male first authors having female corresponding authors (P = 0.0002). The 14% to 18% of female authors in Spine is higher than the ∼5% female membership of the Scoliosis Research Society and North American Spine Society. CONCLUSION Manuscripts in Spine over the past 30 years have shown a significant increase in the number of authors, collaborating institutions and countries, printed pages, references, and number of times each manuscript was cited. There has been a mild increase in female first authorship, but none in corresponding authorship. Increases in female authorship will likely require recruitment of more females into the discipline rather than providing females in the discipline with authorship opportunities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE N/A.
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89
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Gelinne A, Zuckerman S, Benzil D, Grady S, Callas P, Durham S. United States Medical Licensing Exam Step I Score as a Predictor of Neurosurgical Career Beyond Residency. Neurosurgery 2018; 84:1028-1034. [DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyy313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractBACKGROUNDUnited States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step I score is cited as one of the most important factors when for applying to neurosurgery residencies. No studies have documented a correlation between USMLE Step I score and metrics of neurosurgical career trajectory beyond residency.OBJECTIVETo determine whether USMLE Step I exam scores are predictive of neurosurgical career beyond residency, as defined by American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) certification status, practice type, academic rank, and research productivity.METHODSA database of neurosurgery residency applicants who matched into neurosurgery from 1997 to 2007 was utilized that included USMLE Step I score. Online databases were used to determine h-index, National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding, academic rank, practice type, and ABNS certification status of each applicant. Linear regression and nonparametric testing determined associations between USMLE Step I scores and these variables.RESULTSUSMLE Step I scores were higher for neurosurgeons in academic positions (237) when compared to community practice (234) and non-neurosurgeons (233, P < .01). USMLE Step I score was not different between neurosurgeons of different academic rank (P = .21) or ABNS certification status (P = .78). USMLE Step I score was not correlated with h-index for academic neurosurgeons (R2 = 0.002, P = .36).CONCLUSIONUSMLE Step I score has little utility in predicting the future careers of neurosurgery resident applicants. A career in academic neurosurgery is associated with a slightly higher USMLE Step I score. However, USMLE Step I score does not predict academic rank or productivity (h-index or NIH funding) nor does USMLE Step I score predict ABNS certification status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Gelinne
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Scott Zuckerman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Deborah Benzil
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Mount Sinai Health System, Mount Kisco, New York
| | - Sean Grady
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Peter Callas
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Susan Durham
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, Vermont
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviva Abosch
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; and
| | - James T Rutka
- 2Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group, Charlottesville, Virginia
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Zuckerman SL, Kelly PD, Dewan MC, Morone PJ, Yengo-Kahn AM, Magarik JA, Baticulon RE, Zusman EE, Solomon GS, Wellons JC. Predicting Resident Performance from Preresidency Factors: A Systematic Review and Applicability to Neurosurgical Training. World Neurosurg 2018; 110:475-484.e10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.11.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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