• Georgia M Wong, Josef D Williams, Kitara F Smith, Parker Buck, Jean-Paul Bryant, and M Nathan Nair.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Electronic address: georgia.wong23@gmail.com.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Sep 1; 189: 264271264-271.

BackgroundNeurosurgery exhibits notably lower representation of Black, Hispanic, and female surgeons compared to various other medical and surgical specialties. Existing research focuses on medical students' views on surgeons, factors influencing female medical students' preferences in surgical fields, and the perceived interests and concerns of students contemplating a career in neurosurgery. However, there is a significant gap in understanding the unique concerns and perspectives of female medical students interested in neurosurgery.MethodsSemistructured interviews with female medical students were recruited from medical schools in the District of Columbia area. Interview questions were based on Lent and Brown's Social Cognitive Career Theory. Transcripts were analyzed thematically into codes.ResultsIn total, 8 female medical students from our institution participated. We identified 3 major themes that influenced medical students decision-making: sense of belonging (diversity, mentorship, and passionate), self-efficacy (ambitious/"gunner," intense/competitive), and outcome expectations (innovation/research, immediate impact, procedural/surgical aspect, salary, and work-life balance).ConclusionsFemale medical students face distinct challenges and factors to consider when choosing a career in neurological surgery. The biggest concern for female students was a sense of belonging. It is imperative to enhance the diversity within the neurosurgical specialty and boost the representation of female neurosurgeons. Early interventions designed to tackle and alleviate their specific concerns are pivotal in achieving this goal.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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