• Kaho Adachi, Mishaal Hukamdad, Allison Raymundo, Sam H Jiang, and Ankit I Mehta.
• University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Apr 1; 184: e346e353e346-e353.

ObjectiveWe sought to identify trends in the number of female neurosurgeons across each state and identify state characteristics that affect such values.MethodsThe Physician Compare National Downloadable File was queried from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services for 2017 and 2023. Physicians indicating "neurosurgery" as their primary specialty were extracted and duplicates were removed. States were ranked based on the number of female neurosurgeons. The percent growth in the number of female neurosurgeons from 2017 to 2023 was calculated for each state. Univariable and multivariable regressions were used to identify the association between state characteristics and the number of female neurosurgeons.ResultsThe number of female neurosurgeons was higher in urban states while rural states saw a greater increase compared to five years ago. Univariable regression showed significant differences in the number of neurosurgery residency programs, neurosurgery hospitals ranked in U.S. News & World Report, paid parental leave law, number and percentage of female physicians, and diversity index score (P < 0.05). The diversity index score independently affected the number of female neurosurgeons (P < 0.05).ConclusionsStates with more training programs, female physicians, and paid parental leave policies saw a large number of female neurosurgeons. Diversity in the general population is also crucial to improving the equity in gender representation of neurosurgeons in each state. The increase in female neurosurgery representation in rural states shows that the shortage of neurosurgeons in underserved areas is creating a unique niche for female neurosurgeons to excel.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

13 keywords...

hide…