Role and contributions of women in revolutionizing neurosurgery

Abstract

We owe it to the women neurosurgeons for paving the way to a more gender-inclusive world of medicine. Their dedication and sacrifices have led them and their followers to scale unimaginable heights in terms of administrative positions, leadership, and academics. In today's scenario, it is safe to say that society has progressed considerably. Past years have seen an uprise in the number of females enrolling in a medical degree programme however, this proportion is highly distorted when it comes to specialties such as Neurosurgery. This disparity seems to be evolving and leveling out in all specialties, as more and more women are stepping out of their comfort zone and challenging the established standards of the society. It is with the collective efforts of all stakeholders and women that we see more women not only choosing such specialties which were previously uncharted terrain, but also leading organizations globally and excelling on the administrative and academic fronts. Veteran female surgeons have revolutionized neurosurgery and its subspecialties in unimaginable ways and the present as well as the future generation neurosurgeons continue to take inspiration from them and follow their footsteps. This paper has put together the contributions of female neurosurgeons in various subspecialties of neurosurgery as well as giving an account of the leadership and administrative positions served by women. We also shed light on the role of women as an academician and a researcher.

Keywords

• Chair
• Female
• President
• Neurosurgery
• Women