Women in neurosurgery in Peru: current situation and representation

The participation of women in neurosurgery in Peru began in 1974 with the first Peruvian female neurosurgeon, who was accepted into a residency program with the condition of not getting married during her training. Nowadays, the conditions are more just, and there is greater equality of opportunities between men and women, but the numbers show that the differences have not yet been fully equalized. As evidence of this, it has been observed that only 17% of the residency positions offered in 2022 were filled by women, and there has been reduced participation of female neurosurgeons in the Peruvian Society of Neurosurgery. This article discusses the importance of tracking and promoting stories of Peruvian female neurosurgeons and calls for research in the area of women in neurosurgery in latin countries, like Peru.

The humanitarian aid of neurosurgical missions in Peru: A chronicle and future perspectives

Background

The unmet neurosurgical need has remained patent in developing countries, including Peru. However, continuous efforts to overcome the lack of affordable care have been achieved, being neurosurgical missions one of the main strategies. We chronicle the humanitarian labor of organizations from high-income countries during their visit to Peru, the contributions to local trainees' education, and the treatment of underserved patients. Furthermore, we discuss the embedded challenges from these missions and the future perspective on long-term partnerships and sustainability.

Methods

This is a narrative review. We searched the literature in PubMed and Google Scholar about neurosurgical missions conducted in Peru.

Results

Since 1962, twelve organizations from high-income countries have delivered humanitarian help in Peru by training local neurosurgeons, treating low-income patients, and providing surgical instrumentation. Out of the three main regions of Peru, cities on the coast and highlands have hosted most of these missions, with no reported outreach in the amazon area. About 75% of the organizations are headquartered in the United States, followed by Canada, Luxembourg, and Spain. In addition, 50% of the organizations have an active partnership. The predominant focus of these missions has been pediatrics, neuro-oncology, and spine surgery.

Conclusion

Neurosurgical missions have represented a strategy to close the disparity in education and treatment in Peru. However, additional efforts must be conducted to improve long-term partnership and sustainability, such as adopting standardized indicators for progress tracking, incorporating remote technologies for continuous training and communication, and expanding partnerships in less attended areas.