Profession ponders why there are so few female neurosurgeons?

Even though more than half of all students attending U.S. medical schools these days are female, the field of neurosurgery faces challenges attracting and retaining women to the profession, according to a new ...

[hystericalsurgic almishap]

Don't ask why, just be thankful there aren't!

[Ian Michael Gumby]

Maybe they saw the risk/reward and decided that getting in to brain surgery wasn't worth losing one's house and life savings in a bogus malpractice suit.

[Capn Subinnac]

There may be a simple explanation. My brother is going to be a neurosurgeon. And if his attitude about women in the field is anything like his colleagues, then I may have the answer as to why more women aren't going to be neurosurgeons.

Some doctors feel that women aren't as good a doctor as men. Because they get married, have families, and in turn supposedly leave their education and careers to suffer. I don't feel that way, but if what I've been hearing is true across the field, there's your answer.

[Steak]

Capn Subinnac wrote:

There may be a simple explanation. My brother is going to be a neurosurgeon. And if his attitude about women in the field is anything like his colleagues, then I may have the answer as to why more women aren't going to be neurosurgeons.
Some doctors feel that women aren't as good a doctor as men. Because they get married, have families, and in turn supposedly leave their education and careers to suffer. I don't feel that way, but if what I've been hearing is true across the field, there's your answer.

If thats true then that is a shame.

[I Am A Racist]

When the president of Harvard (a male) suggested conducting a study to determine why there are so few female scientists and mathematicans he got fired. But when a bunch of female doctors ask the same question about a medical specialty they are given a pat on the head.
Hypocrisy: the real AMERICAN specialty.

[Misplaced Texan]

Probably some high-level conspiracy.

[Spector]

1.) Who the hell cares.
2.) Shouldn't someone be asking questions more relevant to the 99.99999999998% of the rest of the US population, like gee, why X% of women have no health insurance? Why Y% of men have no coverage? Why Z% of children similarly have no access to care?

Honestly, what fascinates the stratospheric minds and egos of a few paid authors working in a medical think tank versus what really matters in the day to day lives of most people is sometimes just divorced from reality. Is this really worthy of coverage as "news" in the Trib?

OK, how many female brain surgeons can dance on the head of a pin? Pay me a few hundred grand and I'll draft a peer-reviewed study on my and my colleagues findings', and then for added effect, get it published in the Tribune as "news"....

Jeeze!

[Surfscooter]

I think Mr. Gumby has it right: the extremely long training and exorbitant malpractice premiums for what is already a high risk segment of medical practice. Financially, the docs can't make up the foregone income when you pile on the insurance premiums and the prospect of one large settlement or loss of a claim.

[jak]

I Am A Racist wrote:

When the president of Harvard (a male) suggested conducting a study to determine why there are so few female scientists and mathematicans he got fired. But when a bunch of female doctors ask the same question about a medical specialty they are given a pat on the head.
Hypocrisy: the real AMERICAN specialty.

The former president at Harvard did not propose a study. He said that there were far fewer female scientists than male scientists because females were inherently (genetically) less intelligent than males overall.

Men are more likely to be neurosurgeons than women. Maybe it has to do with a difference in interests. Men are more likely to be engineers and technologists than women also. In engineering schools and computer science/IT programs across the country and perhaps the world, women are far outnumbered by men. Some female engineers and technologists are trying to recruit and support women in their fields because of this "shortage."

We know that men are more interested in engineering and technology than women in general. Perhaps that is the case with neurosurgery. As long as it doesn't involve discrimination, harassment, a hostile work environment, or low self-esteem, we should be okay with it.

Researchers should ask female medical students what they think about neurosurgery, what they think about the work environment, and why or why not they are interested in the specialty. They should ask the same questions to practicing female neurosurgeons.

[Doctor Weinburg]

Cause woman are not as smart as men

[cscs7]

Surfscooter wrote:

I think Mr. Gumby has it right: the extremely long training and exorbitant malpractice premiums for what is already a high risk segment of medical practice.

Malpractice premiums has nothing to do w/ it.

Neurosurgeons are among the highest paid specialists (w/ most making btwn $500k to over $1 mil a year).

While some basis for the lack of women physicians in neurosurgery is partly due to the "old boys club" mentality that still exists, other factors such as the long years in training, the long hours, etc. come into play (it's really difficult to have kids, much less spend much time w/ them as a neurosurgeon).

That's the reason why many female physicians who want to go into surgery opt for opthamology (much better hours).

[sluggo]

What is the percentage of male medical students choosing gynecology and female urology specialties these days? Probably low as most of the patients want to see a female doctor.

[Bob Obobovich]

Lazy, lazy, lazy, female dogs.

[Satan Gumby]

All I got to say is I hope she doesn't start muenstruating or having hot flashes when she's slicing and dicing my magnificent male brain.

No Thanks.

[MGumby]

Good point jak, I wouldn't want someone with esteem issues choppin up my noodle.

[MGumby]

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is also a major problem among women.

[Ella]

cscs7 wrote:

<quoted text>
Malpractice premiums has nothing to do w/ it.
Neurosurgeons are among the highest paid specialists (w/ most making btwn $500k to over $1 mil a year).
While some basis for the lack of women physicians in neurosurgery is partly due to the "old boys club" mentality that still exists, other factors such as the long years in training, the long hours, etc. come into play (it's really difficult to have kids, much less spend much time w/ them as a neurosurgeon).
That's the reason why many female physicians who want to go into surgery opt for opthamology (much better hours).

Do you know this for a fact? What is your source please? Are you a doctor and do you know about malpractice? Do you know how often a physician is subjected to unsubstantiated lawsuits? Do you know how much it costs for someone to put themselves through medical school? Do you know that there was a shortage of neurosurgeons in the Chicago area because of malpractice premiums? Unless you've lived it, I doubt you know anything.

[Ella]

sluggo wrote:

What is the percentage of male medical students choosing gynecology and female urology specialties these days? Probably low as most of the patients want to see a female doctor.

That is totally sexist, and you do you too have proof of this? Why would ANY woman have a problem with a male physician as long as they are competent and caring?

[Caregivers Voice]

Ella wrote:

<quoted text> Do you know this for a fact? What is your source please? Are you a doctor and do you know about malpractice? Do you know how often a physician is subjected to unsubstantiated lawsuits? Do you know how much it costs for someone to put themselves through medical school? Do you know that there was a shortage of neurosurgeons in the Chicago area because of malpractice premiums? Unless you've lived it, I doubt you know anything.

Right on Ella! In addition to your points, i would like to add that there is actually a division called "Keep our Doctors in Illinois!" Due to AGAIN the high malpractice insurance for the docs here. How do i know? I've worked in the clinics and hospitals here in Chicago, with Neurologists and Neurosurgeons, and yes Malpractice Inusrance is always a topic. Ive also observed that many of them with transfer up to Wisconsin Hospitals as it is more affordable for them to practice....
These other commentors are male chauvinists without a clue that i can see crying for their mother when i have to place a catheter in them.

[Omar]

Surfscooter wrote:

I think Mr. Gumby has it right: the extremely long training and exorbitant malpractice premiums for what is already a high risk segment of medical practice. Financially, the docs can't make up the foregone income when you pile on the insurance premiums and the prospect of one large settlement or loss of a claim.

This is a total non sequitur. The article indicates that 16,000 people apply for only 180 spots as neurosurgery residents. This hardly sounds like people are discourage from entering this specialty. The focus of the article is why so few of those applicants are women. If your theory is true, why is it only women who are turned of by high med mal premiums? Are men not concerned about their income? Nonsense.