Gender parity in neurosurgery residencies: an analysis

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Neurosurgery
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Despite achieving gender parity in medical school graduation rates, women remain underrepresented in neurosurgery residency programs.
• Persistent inequalities and barriers hinder equitable application and representation for women in neurosurgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the progress of gender parity in neurosurgery residency programs.
• To analyze the impact of attrition on female neurosurgery trainees.
• To explore patterns of female applications to neurosurgery compared to other surgical specialties.

Main Methods:

• Collected data on active female neurosurgery residents and applicants from 2007-2022.
• Utilized linear regression to analyze trends in female resident representation over academic years.
• Employed Pearson chi-square tests to evaluate the odds of female applicants entering neurosurgery.

Main Results:

• The percentage of active female neurosurgery residents increased from 11.0% in 2007 to 21.8% in 2021, a rise of 0.65% per year.
• A 1% increase in neurosurgery attrition rates correlated with a 2.91% decrease in the percentage of active female residents.
• Female applicants to neurosurgery rose from 19.6% in 2014 to 29.8% in 2022, though overall application odds remain low.

Conclusions:

• Neurosurgery faces challenges in recruiting female medical students despite parity in medical school matriculation.
• Significant efforts are required to enhance the recruitment and retention of female applicants in neurosurgery.
• Increased transparency regarding match and attrition metrics is crucial for advancing gender equity.