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Gender Differences in Publications, Authorship, and Match Patterns Among Neurosurgical Residency Applicants
Logan Muzyka1,2, Ethan A Wetzel2,3, Alexander F Wang2,4
1Department of Neurosurgery, Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, Austin , Texas , USA.
Neurosurgery
|August 15, 2025
Summary
Female neurosurgery applicants face gender disparities in publication metrics, impacting residency match success. Mentorship and research support are crucial for improving female representation in neurosurgery.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Medical Education
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Gender disparities persist in neurosurgery, affecting leadership and scientific output.
- Systemic barriers hinder female representation despite diversity efforts.
- Publication metrics significantly influence neurosurgical residency applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze gender differences in publication metrics among matched neurosurgical residents.
- Identify factors contributing to gender disparities in neurosurgical applications.
- Inform strategies to enhance female representation in neurosurgery.
Main Methods:
- Examined publication data for 242 matched neurosurgical residents from the 2023 match.
- Utilized PubMed, Scopus, and departmental websites for data collection.
- Analyzed publication metrics, senior author gender, and applicant demographics.
Main Results:
- Male applicants had more publications, first-authorships, and higher H-indices than female applicants.
- Female applicants were more likely to match with female senior authors, increasing odds of first authorship.
- Male applicants collaborated more with male senior authors and published more in spine surgery.
Conclusions:
- Senior author gender influences publication likelihood for female applicants.
- Gender disparities in publication metrics present systemic barriers for female applicants.
- Mentorship from both male and female neurosurgical faculty is critical to address these disparities.
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