More female neurosurgeons sought

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Efforts are under way to boost the number of women who train to become neurosurgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons said.

A report by the group Women in Neurosurgery said female neurosurgeons comprise less than 6 percent of the nation's neurosurgical workforce.

"The first female neurosurgeon received Board certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgeons (ABNS) in 1960, and there are only 189 ABNS-certified female neurosurgeons in the United States today," lead author Dr. Deborah Benzil said in statement.

The findings are published in the Journal of Neurosurgery.

The report said there appears to be gender inequity in regard to salaries and academic promotion, as well as inadequate mentoring and lack of female role models.

"Failure to attract the brightest and most talented in the applicant pool by exclusions of subtle and deniable discrimination is unacceptable," AANS president James R. Bean said in a statement.