Promoting diversity in neurosurgery through a virtual symposium

Abstract

OBJECTIVE The rates of women and underrepresented racial and ethnic minority (UREM) students successfully matching into neurosurgical residency are extremely low and do not reflect the makeup of the general population. As of 2019, only 17.5% of neurosurgical residents in the United States were women, 4.95% were Black or African American, and 7.2% were Hispanic or Latinx. Earlier recruitment of UREM students will help to diversify the neurosurgical workforce. Therefore, the authors developed a virtual educational event for undergraduate students entitled "Future Leaders in Neurosurgery Symposium for Underrepresented Students’’ (FLNSUS). The primary objectives of the FLNSUS were to expose attendees to 1) neurosurgeons from diverse gender, racial, and ethnic backgrounds; 2) neurosurgical research; 3) opportunities for neurosurgical mentorship; and 4) information about life as a neurosurgeon. The authors hypothesized that the FLNSUS would increase student self-confidence, provide exposure to the specialty, and reduce perceived barriers to a neurosurgical career. METHODS To measure the change in participant perceptions of neurosurgery, pre- and postsymposium surveys were administered to attendees. Of the 269 participants who completed the presymposium survey, 250 participated in the virtual event and 124 completed the postsymposium survey. Paired pre- and postsurvey responses were used for analysis, yielding a response rate of 46%. To assess the impact of participant perceptions of neurosurgery as a field, pre- and postsurvey responses to questions were compared. The change in response was analyzed, and a nonparametric sign test was performed to check for significant differences. RESULTS According to the sign test, applicants showed increased familiarity with the field (p < 0.001), increased confidence in their abilities to become neurosurgeons (p = 0.014), and increased exposure to neurosurgeons from diverse gender, racial, and ethnic backgrounds (p < 0.001 for all categories). CONCLUSIONS These results reflect a significant improvement in student perceptions of neurosurgery and suggest that symposiums like the FLNSUS may promote further diversification of the field. The authors anticipate that events promoting diversity in neurosurgery will lead to a more equitable workforce that will ultimately translate to enhanced research productivity, cultural humility, and patient-centered care in neurosurgery.

A decade of diversity: using statistical indices to compare neurosurgery to other surgical specialties

“…Furthermore, our ability to trend the neurosurgery resident CDI over time indicates that the field has consistently made improvements in overall diversity since 2015. While these findings are positive and indicate the potential efficacy of initiatives to improve diversity such as the multiinstitutional neurosurgery summer scholarship for Black medical students, the Stanford Historically Black Colleges and Universities neurosurgery partnership, and the virtual neurosurgery symposium, [48][49][50] there is no guarantee that these trends will continue without close and thoughtful attention by neurosurgical leadership on an ongoing basis. Unlike gender diversity efforts, racial diversity efforts are being actively blocked in the US via anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion legislation, court actions on admissions policies, and a worsening climate of political polarization with respect to racism.…”

Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Neurosurgery: Challenges, Progress, and Future Directions

“…39 Consequently, efforts to preliminarily engage prospective URiM healthcare students help build self-confidence, provide exposure to the specialty, and reduce perceived barriers to a neurosurgical career. 40 This was evidenced by the Future Leaders in Neurosurgery Symposium for Underrepresented Students, a seven-hour symposium hosted by Duke University for high school and college students, which featured presentations from preeminent neurosurgeons from across the country. 40 Pre- and postsymposium surveys demonstrated increased participant familiarity with neurosurgery, increased confidence in their ability to become a neurosurgeon, and increased exposure to neurosurgeons from diverse groups.…”

“…40 This was evidenced by the Future Leaders in Neurosurgery Symposium for Underrepresented Students, a seven-hour symposium hosted by Duke University for high school and college students, which featured presentations from preeminent neurosurgeons from across the country. 40 Pre- and postsymposium surveys demonstrated increased participant familiarity with neurosurgery, increased confidence in their ability to become a neurosurgeon, and increased exposure to neurosurgeons from diverse groups. The American Society of Black Neurosurgeons has also made a significant impact since its inception in 2020, 41 hosting a series of webinars and a mentorship program designed to increase the number of Black students entering the field of neurosurgery.…”

Scoping review on the state of racial disparities literature in the treatment of neurosurgical disease: a call for action

“…Paired pre-and postsymposium surveys showed that the FLNSUS significantly increased participants' familiarity with the field, confidence in their ability to become neurosurgeons, and exposure to neurosurgeons from diverse backgrounds. 37 Long-term follow-up for participants of these events will yield insight into their impact on influencing the decision to pursue a neurosurgical career.…”

“…Studies within neurosurgery have demonstrated that minority students interested in neurosurgery are more likely to want to work in underserved areas and with minority populations. 37,45 This past year, the ASBN launched "Neuro Mentoring Matters" in collaboration with the Student National Medical Association. This program promotes longitudinal mentorship between neurosurgical attendings, residents, and students to foster the pipeline to a career in neurosurgery.…”