WFNS WINS

WFNS Women in Neurosurgery (WINS) Newsletter

Founding Issue — International Women’s Day

March 8, 2026

Message from the WINS Chair

(To be contributed by Prof. Mirna Sobana)

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the WINS Newsletter. This first issue represents more than a new publication. It reflects the collective voice of Women in Neurosurgery across five continents. It is a space to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the achievements of accomplished women representing diverse subspecialties throughout our field.

Released in the spirit of International Women’s Day, this edition honors the strength, resilience, and impact of women in neurosurgery. Through our commitment to research, science, publication, and professional leadership, WINS supports academic excellence while recognizing the importance of balance in our professional and personal lives.

Women in neurosurgery are not simply just surgeons. We are also scientists, mentors, leaders, and caregivers. WINS exists to foster an environment where ambition and collaboration coexist, where we advance together and support one another across borders and generations.

We hope this newsletter becomes a meaningful platform to highlight milestones, share knowledge, and strengthen our global community. Happy International Women’s Day, and welcome to the first chapter of WINS.

Founding Editor’s Message

Dr. Noor-ul-Huda Maria
WFNS Women in Neurosurgery Committee
Lead, Newsletter & Webinar Sub-Committee

Dear Colleagues,

It is a matter of great honor and joy to work under the leadership of Prof. Mirna Sobana, the Chairperson of Women in Neurosurgery Chapter. Her dedication to the cause of promoting women neurosurgeons is truly inspiring.

It is a privilege to introduce the founding issue of the WFNS Women in Neurosurgery (WINS) Newsletter, released on International Women’s Day.

The purpose of this newsletter is not symbolic visibility. Rather, it is intended as a practical platform—to disseminate opportunities, share initiatives, invite participation, and document progress in a transparent and reproducible manner. It will serve as a conduit linking education, mentorship, research, and publication within the WINS framework.

This newsletter belongs to the global neurosurgical community. We warmly invite contributions, ideas, and collaboration as we build these initiatives together. I hope this newsletter will help in enhancing and equalising representation, leadership, and academic engagement globally.

With sincere regards,
Dr. Noor-ul-Huda Maria

Meeting Highlights

WFNS Women in Neurosurgery Committee — February 7, 2026

The WFNS Women in Neurosurgery Committee convened its coordination and planning meeting on February 7, 2026, with representation from all global regions.

Consensus to initiate a Women in Neurosurgery Newsletter, with preference for dissemination under the WFNS newsletter framework to ensure broad global reach
Proposal to develop a Women in Neurosurgery Journal Supplement, focusing on workforce data, education, mentorship, and equity-driven initiatives
Introduction of a Virtual Mentorship Program, emphasizing structured mentor–mentee matching and measurable outcomes
Recognition of the need for global data collection addressing attrition, career progression, and regional challenges faced by women neurosurgeons
Agreement to expand educational activities, including webinars and structured courses with participation from trainees and senior faculty
Proposal to conduct research examining the decline of women in postgraduate education and professorship positions, with emphasis on identifying region-specific barriers and developing actionable solutions

These initiatives will be implemented in a phased and coordinated manner over the 2025–2027 term.

Future Initiatives & Calls for Participation

Women in Neurosurgery Newsletter

The WINS Newsletter will be released periodically and will include:

Global perspectives and regional updates
Educational and academic opportunities
Short commentaries, reflections, and program highlights
Announcements related to WINS activities

Newsletter Submissions

Open to neurosurgeons, trainees, researchers, and collaborators worldwide
Article types: commentaries, regional updates, educational pearls, trainee perspectives, program highlights
Word limit: typically 300–800 words
Figures/tables: optional

Submit your work to:
Dr. Noor-ul-Huda Maria
drnoorneuro@gmail.com

Women in Neurosurgery Journal Supplement

The WFNS WINS Committee is developing a Women in Neurosurgery Supplement in collaboration with a WFNS-affiliated journal.

Planned focus areas include:

Workforce representation and career trajectories
Mentorship and training models
Barriers and solutions in low- and middle-income countries
Leadership, policy, and academic development
Innovations in education and virtual learning

Submission dates and author guidelines will be formally announced in an upcoming communication. Mentored submissions and first-time authors will be encouraged.

View Journal Information

WFNS WINS Educational Courses

A structured educational program is under development, utilizing a tiered teaching model:

Senior neurosurgeon: anchor lecture
Resident or fellow: applied clinical perspective
Medical student or junior trainee: supervised short lecture

Courses will be modular, subspecialty-based, and designed to foster both learning and teaching skills. Certificates will be awarded based on participation and defined deliverables.

Virtual Mentorship Program

The WFNS WINS Virtual Mentorship Program aims to provide:

Structured mentor–mentee matching across regions
Regular virtual meetings
Defined academic or career-oriented goals
Certification upon completion

Mentorship tracks will include medical students, residents, early-career neurosurgeons, and academic development pathways.

Calls for mentors and mentees:
Those interested in becoming mentors or mentees are cordially invited to share a letter of interest with CVs for consideration.

Please send applications to:
Dr. Noor-ul-Huda Maria
drnoorneuro@gmail.com

Research & Workforce Study Initiative

A research initiative has been proposed to investigate the observed decline in the number of women pursuing postgraduate education and academic leadership roles in neurosurgery.

The project aims to identify region-specific challenges, understand underlying causes, and propose evidence-based strategies to support retention and advancement. Further details will be shared soon.

Initiative leads: Dr. Selfy Oswari and Dr. Rebecca Chave-Cox

Global Women in Neurosurgery Database

A continent-wise initiative has been launched to develop a global database of women in neurosurgery, coordinated by regional representatives.

This database will support:

Networking and mentorship
Research and workforce analysis
Improved representation in academic and leadership roles

A form will be circulated among women neurosurgeons to include their names in the database.

Women in Neurosurgery History

The First Woman Neurosurgeon

Dr. Diana Beck (1902–1956) is widely recognized as the first woman neurosurgeon.

Trained in the United Kingdom, Dr. Beck practiced neurosurgery at a time when both surgery and neuroscience were overwhelmingly male-dominated fields. She worked at the Royal Free Hospital in London and contributed significantly to the development of neurosurgical services for women and children.

Beyond her operative work, she played an important role in mentoring younger clinicians and demonstrating that women could succeed in one of the most technically demanding surgical specialties. Her career paved the way for future generations of women neurosurgeons worldwide.

Trivia Bite

Over the past five years, many countries have reported a steady rise in women entering neurosurgical residency programs.
In several regions, women now constitute approximately 15–25% of neurosurgery trainees, compared with single-digit percentages in previous decades.
Despite this growth, women remain underrepresented in senior academic and leadership positions globally, highlighting the importance of sustained mentorship and institutional support.