• Megan D Malueg, Hayden E Greene, and Renée M Reynolds.
• Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Oct 1; 190: 342349342-349.

BackgroundPromoting minorities within medical specialties has been postulated to be crucial to patient care and recruitment of diverse candidates. This concept has been suspected but not formally studied in the minority of women faculty and trainees in neurosurgery. We aimed to quantitatively investigate the postulated correlation relative to female representation in neurosurgery.MethodsData obtained from accredited neurosurgery residency programs were reviewed. Data describing the percentage of female residents and 6 demographic and 14 program-specific variables were collected. All program websites were reviewed to assess percentages of female faculty and visible commitment to diversity in applicants, evident through communicated policies, statements, or initiatives. Included programs were defined as "low" or "high" percentage of female residents or faculty relative to the grouped median value for both categories; groups were assessed for significant differences. Percentages of female faculty and residents and program-communicated diversity initiatives were investigated for significant correlation.ResultsFemale faculty and diversity data were available at 117 program sites; 81 programs reported female resident percentages. Analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between female faculty and female resident percentages. Programs with higher female resident percentages had higher levels of diversity in terms of race and ethnicity. No significant correlation was found between the percentage of female faculty or residents and a communicated diversity initiative.ConclusionsThis study of current female representation in neurosurgery revealed a previously undocumented positive correlation between percentages of female faculty and female trainees. These data suggest a modifiable barrier to female entry into neurosurgical residency programs.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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