Trends in utilization of standardized letters of recommendation in the 2021-2022 neurosurgery application process.

OBJECTIVE: Standardized letters of recommendation (SLORs) were introduced during the 2020-2021 neurosurgery residency application cycle, but suffered from poor interrater reliability and grade inflation. Changes were made to the SLOR template and utilization patterns in response to these shortcomings. The authors examined the second year of SLOR utilization. They hypothesized that grade inflation and interrater reliability would be improved from the first iteration. They also hypothesized that increased numbers of letters by single writers would correlate with broader rating distributions. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed all SLORs submitted to a single neurosurgery residency program over the 2021-2022 cycle. Data from 7 competency domains and the overall rating were recorded and stratified by academic category of the letter writer. Interrater reliability was evaluated using Krippendorff's alpha. The frequency of letters written was evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis H test. RESULTS: Ninety percent of SLORs rated applicants among the top 25%, but there was a significant decrease in the usage of the top 1% and top 2%-5% ratings. Interrater reliability was poor across all competencies. Writers who completed 1 SLOR rated applicants higher and had a narrower range than those who completed multiple SLORs. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the format and subsequent utilization patterns of SLORs have slightly decreased grade inflation; however, interrater reliability remains poor. The most wide-ranging evaluators submitted the highest number of SLORs, suggesting that future evaluation and usage of SLORs should emphasize letter-writer characteristics and numbers of SLORs written. Overall, SLORs have been well and broadly accepted with subtle improvements in the second year of utilization.

Toward an understanding of sexual harassment in neurosurgery.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was the creation and administration of a survey to assess the depth and breadth of sexual harassment across neurosurgery. METHODS: A survey was created to 1) assess perceived attitudes toward systemic issues that might be permissive of sexual harassment; 2) measure the reported prevalence and severity of sexual harassment; and 3) determine the populations at highest risk and those most likely to perpetrate sexual harassment. Demographic information was also included to facilitate further analysis. The SurveyMonkey platform was used, and a request to complete the survey was sent to all Society of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) active and resident members as well as CNS transitional, emeritus, and inactive members. Data were analyzed using RStudio version 1.2.5019. RESULTS: Nearly two-thirds of responders indicated having witnessed sexual harassment in some form (62%, n = 382). Males were overwhelmingly identified as the offenders in allegations of sexual harassment (72%), with individuals in a "superior position" identified as offenders in 86%. Less than one-third of responders addressed the incidents of sexual harassment when they happened (yes 31%, no 62%, unsure 7%). Of those who did report, most felt there was either no impact or a negative one (negative: 34%, no impact: 38%). Almost all (85%) cited barriers to taking action about sexual harassment, including retaliation/retribution (87%), impact on future career (85%), reputation concerns (72%), and associated stress (50%). Female neurosurgeons were statistically more likely than male neurosurgeons to report witnessing or experiencing sexual harassment, as well as assessing it as a problem. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that neurosurgeons report significant sexual harassment across all ages and practice settings. Sexual harassment impacts both men and women, with more than half personally subjected to this behavior and two-thirds having witnessed it. Male dominance, a hierarchical environment, and a permissive environment remain prevalent within the neurosurgical community. This is not just a historical problem, but it continues today. A change of culture will be required for neurosurgery to shed this mantle, which must include zero tolerance of this behavior, new policies, awareness of unconscious bias, and commitment to best practices to enhance diversity. Above all, it will require that all neurosurgeons and neurosurgical leaders develop an awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace and establish consistent mechanisms to mitigate against its highly deleterious effects in the specialty.

Continuous improvement in patient safety and quality in neurological surgery: the American Board of Neurological Surgery in the past, present, and future.

The American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) was incorporated in 1940 in recognition of the need for detailed training in and special qualifications for the practice of neurological surgery and for self-regulation of quality and safety in the field. The ABNS believes it is the duty of neurosurgeons to place a patient's welfare and rights above all other considerations and to provide care with compassion, respect for human dignity, honesty, and integrity. At its inception, the ABNS was the 13th member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which itself was founded in 1933. Today, the ABNS is one of the 24 member boards of the ABMS.To better serve public health and safety in a rapidly changing healthcare environment, the ABNS continues to evolve in order to elevate standards for the practice of neurological surgery. In connection with its activities, including initial certification, recognition of focused practice, and continuous certification, the ABNS actively seeks and incorporates input from the public and the physicians it serves. The ABNS board certification processes are designed to evaluate both real-life subspecialty neurosurgical practice and overall neurosurgical knowledge, since most neurosurgeons provide call coverage for hospitals and thus must be competent to care for the full spectrum of neurosurgery.The purpose of this report is to describe the history, current state, and anticipated future direction of ABNS certification in the US.

Neurosurgical education in Egypt and Africa.

OBJECTIVE: Africa still significantly lags in the development of neurosurgery. Egypt, located in North Africa, is well-developed in this specialty, with the largest number of neurosurgeons among all African countries. This article provides insight into neurosurgical training in Egypt, the challenges African neurosurgeons are facing, and the requirements needed to enhance neurosurgical education and build up the required neurosurgical capacity in Africa. METHODS: The information presented in the current work was collected from databases of the Egyptian Society of Neurological Surgeons and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. RESULTS: There are two types of neurosurgical certification in Egypt. The first type is granted by the universities (MD), and the second is awarded by the Ministry of Health (Fellow of Neurosurgery). The program in both types ranges from 6 to 9 years. The number of qualified neurosurgeons in Egypt constitutes one-third of the total number of African neurosurgeons. There is a significant shortage of neurological surgeons in Africa, and the distribution is entirely unbalanced, with the majority of neurosurgeons concentrated in the North and South regions. The most important challenge facing neurosurgery in Africa is lack of resources, which is considered to be the main obstacle to the development of neurosurgery. Other challenges include the limited number of neurosurgeons, lack of training programs, and lack of collaboration among the different regions. CONCLUSIONS: Proper collaboration among the different regions within the African continent regarding neurosurgical education will enhance African neurosurgical capacity and make neurosurgery an independent specialty. The definite functional polarity among different regions, regarding both the number of qualified neurosurgeons and the neurosurgical capacity, is an important factor that could help in the development of neurosurgery in this continent.

Neurosurgery residency program in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: improving neurosurgical care distribution to reduce inequality.

OBJECTIVE: Educating future neurosurgeons is of paramount importance, and there are many aspects that must be addressed within the process. One of the essential issues is the disproportion in neurosurgical care, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As stated in their report "Global Surgery 2030," The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery has emphasized that the availability of adequate neurosurgical care does not match the burden of neurosurgical disease. A strong partnership with the local and national government is very desirable to improve the way everyone addresses this issue. In addition, international collaborative effort is absolutely essential for the transfer of knowledge and technology from a developed country to an LMIC. This paper shows what the authors have done in Yogyakarta to build an educational model that helps to improve neurosurgical care distribution in Indonesia and reduce the inequity between provinces. METHODS: The authors gathered data about the number of neurosurgical procedures that were performed in the sister hospital by using data collected by their residents. Information about the distribution of neurosurgeons in Indonesia was adapted from the Indonesian Society of Neurological Surgeons. RESULTS: The data show that there remains a huge disparity in terms of distribution of neurosurgeons in Indonesia. To tackle the issue, the authors have been able to develop a model of collaboration that can be applied not only to the educational purpose but also for establishing neurosurgical services throughout Indonesia. Currently they have signed a memorandum of understanding with four sister hospitals, while an agreement with one sister hospital has come to an end. There were more than 400 neurosurgical procedures, ranging from infection to trauma, treated by the authors' team posted outside of Yogyakarta. CONCLUSIONS: Indonesia has a high level of inequality in neurological surgery care. This model of collaboration, which focuses on the development of healthcare providers, universities, and related stakeholders, might be essential in reducing such a disparity. By using this model, the authors hope they can be involved in achieving the vision of The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, which is "universal access to safe, affordable surgical and anesthesia care when needed."

One hundred years of neurosurgery: contributions of American women.

The end of the first 100 years of any endeavor is an appropriate time to look back and peer forward. As neurosurgery celebrates its 1st century as a specialty, the increasing role of women neurosurgeons is a major theme. This article documents the early women pioneers in neurosurgery. The contributions of these trailblazers to the origins, academics, and professional organizations of neurosurgery are highlighted. The formation of Women in Neurosurgery in 1989 is described, as is the important role this organization has played in introducing and promoting talented women in the profession. Contributions of women neurosurgeons to academic medicine and society as a whole are briefly highlighted. Contemporary efforts and initiatives indicate future directions in which women may lead neurosurgery in its 2nd century.

A cross-sectional study of neurosurgical department chairs in the United States.

OBJECTIVEThe position of neurosurgery department chair undergoes constant evolution as the health care landscape changes. The authors' aim in this paper was to characterize career attributes of neurosurgery department chairs in order to define temporal trends in qualities being sought in neurosurgical leaders. Specifically, they investigated the hypothesis that increased qualifications in the form of additional advanced degrees and research acumen are becoming more common in recently hired chairs, possibly related to the increased complexity of their role.METHODSThe authors performed a retrospective study in which they collected data on 105 neurosurgeons who were neurosurgery department chairs as of December 31, 2016, at accredited academic institutions with a neurosurgery residency program in the United States. Descriptive data on the career of neurosurgery chairs, such as the residency program attended, primary subspecialty focus, and age at which they accepted their position as chair, were collected.RESULTSThe median age and number of years in practice postresidency of neurosurgery chairs on acceptance of the position were 47 years (range 36-63 years) and 14 years (range 6-33 years), respectively, and 87% (n = 91) were first-time chairs. The median duration that chairs had been holding their positions as of December 31, 2016, was 10 years (range 1-34 years). The most common subspecialties were vascular (35%) and tumor/skull base (27%), although the tendency to hire from these specialties diminished over time (p = 0.02). More recently hired chairs were more likely to be older (p = 0.02), have more publications (p = 0.007), and have higher h-indices (p < 0.001) at the time of hire. Prior to being named chair, 13% (n = 14) had a PhD, 4% (n = 4) had an MBA, and 23% (n = 24) were awarded a National Institutes of Health R01 grant, tendencies that were stable over time (p = 0.09-0.23), although when additional degrees were analyzed as a binary variable, chairs hired in 2010 or after were more likely to have an MBA and/or PhD versus those hired before 2010 (26% vs 10%, p = 0.04). The 3 most common residency programs attended by the neurosurgery chairs were Massachusetts General Hospital (n = 8, 8%), University of California, San Francisco (n = 8, 8%), and University of Michigan (n = 6, 6%). Most chairs (n = 63, 61%) attended residency at the institution and/or were staff at the institution before they were named chair, a tendency that persisted over time (p = 0.86).CONCLUSIONSMost neurosurgery department chairs matriculated into the position before the age of 50 years and, despite selection processes usually involving a national search, most chairs had a previous affiliation with the department, a phenomenon that has been relatively stable over time. In recent years, a large increase has occurred in the proportion of chairs with additional advanced degrees and more extensive research experience, underscoring how neurosurgical leadership has come to require scientific skills and the ability to procure grants, as well as the financial skills needed to navigate the ever-changing financial health care landscape.

A microcontroller-based simulation of dural venous sinus injury for neurosurgical training.

OBJECTIVE Surgical simulation has the potential to supplement and enhance traditional resident training. However, the high cost of equipment and limited number of available scenarios have inhibited wider integration of simulation in neurosurgical education. In this study the authors provide initial validation of a novel, low-cost simulation platform that recreates the stress of surgery using a combination of hands-on, model-based, and computer elements. Trainee skill was quantified using multiple time and performance measures. The simulation was initially validated using trainees at the start of their intern year. METHODS The simulation recreates intraoperative superior sagittal sinus injury complicated by air embolism. The simulator model consists of 2 components: a reusable base and a disposable craniotomy pack. The simulator software is flexible and modular to allow adjustments in difficulty or the creation of entirely new clinical scenarios. The reusable simulator base incorporates a powerful microcomputer and multiple sensors and actuators to provide continuous feedback to the software controller, which in turn adjusts both the screen output and physical elements of the model. The disposable craniotomy pack incorporates 3D-printed sections of model skull and brain, as well as artificial dura that incorporates a model sagittal sinus. RESULTS Twelve participants at the 2015 Western Region Society of Neurological Surgeons postgraduate year 1 resident course ("boot camp") provided informed consent and enrolled in a study testing the prototype device. Each trainee was required to successfully create a bilateral parasagittal craniotomy, repair a dural sinus tear, and recognize and correct an air embolus. Participant stress was measured using a heart rate wrist monitor. After participation, each resident completed a 13-question categorical survey. CONCLUSIONS All trainee participants experienced tachycardia during the simulation, although the point in the simulation at which they experienced tachycardia varied. Survey results indicated that participants agreed the simulation was realistic, created stress, and was a useful tool in training neurosurgical residents. This simulator represents a novel, low-cost approach for hands-on training that effectively teaches and tests residents without risk of patient injury.

Financial burden associated with the residency match in neurological surgery.

OBJECTIVE Application for a residency position in neurosurgery is a highly competitive process. Visiting subinternships and interviews are integral parts of the application process that provide applicants and programs with important information, often influencing rank list decisions. However, the process is an expensive one that places significant financial burden on applicants. In this study, the authors aimed to quantify expenses incurred by 1st-year neurosurgery residents who matched into a neurosurgery residency program in 2014 and uncover potential trends in expenses. METHODS A 10-question survey was distributed in partnership with the Society of Neurological Surgeons to all 1st-year neurosurgery residents in the United States. The survey asked respondents about the number of subinternships, interviews, and second looks (after the interview) attended and the resultant costs, the type of program match, preferences for subinternship interviews, and suggestions for changes they would like to see in the application process. In addition to compiling overall results, also examined were the data for differences in cost when stratifying for region of the medical school or whether the respondent had contact with the program they matched to prior to the interview process (matched to home or subinternship program). RESULTS The survey had a 64.4% response rate. The mean total expenses for all components of the application process were US $10,255, with interview costs comprising the majority of the expenses (69.0%). No difference in number of subinternships, interviews, or second looks attended, or their individual and total costs, was seen for applicants from different regions of the United States. Respondents who matched to their home or subinternship program attended fewer interviews than respondents who had no prior contact with their matched program (13.5 vs 16.4, respectively, p = 0.0023) but incurred the same overall costs (mean $9774 vs $10,566; p = 0.58). CONCLUSIONS Securing a residency position in neurosurgery is a costly process for applicants. No differences are seen when stratifying by region of medical school attended or contact with a program prior to interviewing. Interview costs comprise the majority of expenses for applicants, and changes to the application process are needed to control costs incurred by applicants.

Mentorship: service, education, progress. The 2015 CNS Presidential Address.

The theme of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the title of this presidential address focus on mentorship as a valuable service owed to the profession of neurological surgery by its members, a crucial tool for the education of new neurosurgeons, and a fundamental contributor to the progress of the specialty. The author explores the origin of the term "mentor" in Homeric tradition and the impact of mentorship on the historical legacy of neurological surgery. He outlines the role mentorship played in his own professional development, as well as the changing face of mentorship today due to increasing numbers of women in neurosurgery. Many surgeons perceive modern educational approaches as threats to the tradition of personal mentorship in medicine. The author argues that intentional educational methods, such as the Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS) "matrix" curriculum, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education "milestones," and the SNS "boot camp" courses, each focus, enhance, and empower, but do not replace, personal mentorship. The author further describes the important role of mentorship in the definition, growth, and health of the specialty of neurological surgery and in the personal well-being and fulfillment of its practitioners.