Diversity in Neurosurgery

Abstract

Over the past century, the field of neurosurgery has evolved and expanded in various directions. Neurosurgeons have continuously pushed the boundaries of the specialty with scientific discovery and innovation. A diverse array of neurosurgical techniques, treatments, and new areas of study have emerged within the field. Meanwhile, the neurosurgical workforce has stayed demographically homogeneous throughout time. Certain groups remain underrepresented owing to systemic barriers based on social identities and categorizations, including gender, race, ability status, and others. In this article, we highlight some of the underrepresented groups in neurosurgery and chronicle the important contributions and achievements that individuals from these groups have made in the field despite structural barriers and discrimination. We present evidence from the basic sciences, economics, business, and other disciplines that illustrate that diversity is not only just but also the most rational pursuit for positive growth and advancement. Diversity is needed to enrich the specialty and augment its capacity to serve the heterogeneous population of patients that reflect our society. To promote equity and diversity in the field, ongoing deliberate, organized, and systematic efforts to change the status quo and make the field more inclusive are needed.

Progress in neurosurgery: Contributions of women neurosurgeons in Latin America

“…5). However, systemic barriers persist in the field, such as gender-based institutional discrimination, the lack of genderinclusive policy in training programs, and the scarcity of mentorship models for women [22,23]. For example, only 34% of neurosurgical programs in Latin America have a mentorship program [24].…”

Progress in neurosurgery: Contributions of women neurosurgeons in the Middle East

“…Throughout the world, neurosurgery has long been known to be a male-dominated discipline. For example, in the history of women neurosurgeons in North America, the barriers imposed by genderbased discrimination are well documented [18,19]. Apart from the usual obstacles that women encounter in this field, the regionspecific political, social, and cultural issues in the Middle East may cause further impediments for women neurosurgeons.…”

“…In other countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen, and UAE, women medical graduates have shown an increasing tendency towards choosing neurosurgery residencies. In recent decades, collective international steps have been estab-lished to ensure a needed racial, religious and gender equality in the field of neurosurgery [19,30].…”

Editorial. International women leaders in neurosurgery: past, present, and what the future must look like

“…The fundamental question is not about skill, and efforts to prove worth are futile and offensive. The answer to the question, "why do we need women neurosurgical leaders" comes with aligning our aims with those of the Ottawa Consensus and similar statements, that diversity in neurosurgery and healthcare in general 16 is to the benefit to the profession, and to see a moral imperative that those who provide care should be representative in the fullest sense of those for whom they care. 17 This is agreed in other areas of life, most strongly in government, as discussed by Julia Gillard, Australia's only woman prime minister: 6 "…ultimately the case for women's leadership is a moral one.…”