Introduction: The field of neurosurgery continues to be clearly male-dominated.Although nearly half of the medical students are women, they still do not prefer applying neurosurgery residency as many challenges including unique lifestyle concerns, limited mentorship, and discrimination.The purpose of this study was to assess whether the women neurosurgeons were encouraged and supported in academic activities such as national scientific congresses and educational groups of Turkish Neurosurgical Society (TNS).
Methods: We analyzed data from the TNS as reported in annual issues on National Congress in the Journal of Turkish Neurosurgery for the years 2004 to 2015.The total registered number of male and female neurosurgeons was obtained from TNS database and web site (accessed December 14, 2015).6 main education and training groups of the society, and the annual congresses were reviewed to identify the percentage of women within the groups or within the speakers and the moderators at the conferences compared with men.
Results: Total registered number of neurosurgeons in Turkey was 1425 and the women were 65 (4.6%).The highest percentage among education and training groups of TNS was 7.7% (8 female / 104 total) in Surgical Anatomy Group while the least was 1.7% (5 female / 300 total) in Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Group.The rate of involvement in Spinal and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Group for woman neurosurgeons was significantly low (p=0.005) when compared with the other groups.The rate of women neurosurgeons in executive board of education and training groups of TNS is 1/42 (2.2%).Women were usually elected to speak at breakfast seminars (7.7%, p<0.01). There was not any woman neurosurgeon who gave a conference at any Congress of TNS. Women are significantly less placed as speakers and moderators when all assignments are analysed together (p=0.038).
Conclusions: Creating the proper environment is an important consideration to allow women the chance to succeed in neurosurgery, the field primarily managed and directed by men.
Patient Care: The role of succesfull female neurosurgeons as models for brilliant and enthusiastic female medical students has great importance.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to: 1)Describe the importance of being a woman role model in neurosurgery 2) Discuss the position of women neurosurgeons in Turkey