Gender disparity in German neurosurgery

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Professional Development
• Gender Studies in Medicine

Background:

• Increasing female representation in higher education and leadership roles globally.
• Persistent underrepresentation of women in specialized surgical fields, including neurosurgery.
• Need for gender equality in academic medicine and leadership positions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the gender distribution in German neurosurgical departments across all career levels.
• To identify gender disparities in leadership positions within neurosurgery.
• To raise awareness and advocate for improved gender equality in the field.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from departmental websites, email, and telephone inquiries.
• Analysis of gender distribution across 140 German neurosurgical departments.
• Examination of results in relation to hospital ownership type.

Main Results:

• Only 6.3% of department heads were women, with minimal representation in other leadership roles (vice-directors, chief senior physicians).
• Proportion of women increased in non-leadership senior physician roles (23.1%) and further in residents (35.0%).
• Private hospitals showed a higher proportion of female department heads (15.6%) compared to other ownership types.

Conclusions:

• Dramatic underrepresentation of women in neurosurgical leadership positions in Germany.
• Gender disparity increases with higher leadership status.
• Implementation of mentorship, diversity programs, and supportive policies is crucial for gender equality.