"Let's Talk"; Women in Neurosurgery; Part 1; Glasgow Neuro

SUMMARY: Parts 1 & 2. “Let’s Talk” Discussion on the topic of “Women in Neurosurgery”. In a wide-ranging discussion with a panel of women and men neurosurgeons, the challenges faced by women (and men) choosing neurosurgery as a career are discussed. Drs. Nancy Epstein, Kathrin Whitehouse, Saqiba Jadoon, Eric and Leslie Nussbaum and James Ausman, provide their perspectives on a number of questions submitted by an audience of young neurosurgeons, residents, and medical students. Are women better neurosurgeons than men? Do women have more empathy? Are they technically better? What is the Imposter Syndrome? (Should I be here?)

Who is your competition? How do you balance family life and medical obligations? Should you have children before you compete your residency? Should the state pay for childcare for your children? Should you FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT? What comes first ? your job, your spouse, your children, your pet, studying, the patient? How do you balance all of these obligations. Can you be the best neurosurgeon? What does it take? Are you happy? Is money your goal? John F. Kennedy (President of USA in the 1960s) said “Ask not what your country can do for you, what can you do for your country?” Do you believe this? What if you do not? What if everyone does not? Does Socialistic thinking affect your career, choices, motivation, commitment?

Should you get training outside your country? What does the patient want from you as a doctor? Is the patient important as a person or just a number? What is your unwritten contract with the patient? What would you expect from the doctor if you were the patient? Would you expect the best doctor? One who tells you the Truth and is Competent? In today’s society?

Comments from the audience: “Amazing discussion, diverse panel, open, candid, honestly refreshing, have we been deceived by socialism? enlightening, breadth I don’t really get in other webinars, rare to hear neurosurgeons speak so openly about culture, bias, and things that do not get acknowledged in training, inspiring, liked roundtable discussion, greatly overdue, not afraid to agree or disagree with each other, fantastic……Very popular. And much more for 90 minutes. Part 1 is 48 minutes and Part 2 is 60 minutes. Excellent for Podcast and Video on snidigital.org (JIA)