Skull trephination is one of the oldest procedures in the history of medicine, with evidence dating back to the Neolithic period (8000-5000BC)1. Our work refined over the centuries, with giant steps in techniques and technologies over the past two decades. This progress has allowed us as surgeons to identify and treat a greater number of patients with surgical neurological disorders. Our workforce grew in numbers and, as reviewed in the previous issue entitled “Diversity within the Neurosurgery Workforce,” changed in demographics.
The second issue of the AANS Neurosurgeon, entitled “The Current Lenses of Neurosurgery,” is entitled ”Blending Work and Life within our Diverse Neurosurgical Community.” The overarching theme of this issue is to provide insights about aspects of our lives that can affect our work as neurosurgeons. These include how to find harmony and/or balance in our work and life aspects, how to balance clinical and research responsibilities, how to include our children in our busy lives, and how to support our partner pursing their own career growth.
In the current issue, Haid shares his perspective on work-life balance, describing it as a “harmony” as opposed to balance, in the article entitled “The Obstacle is the Way; the Struggle is What Defines Us.” Along the path to becoming a neurosurgeon, some decide to become parents. In this issue, Tabani and Zadeh share their experience on being mothers at crucial periods of their careers in “Today is Possible.” Mazzola and Ginalis review aspects of adoption and how they were weaved into their neurosurgical careers in “My Choice.” The opportunity and challenges of balancing a clinical practice with an active research laboratory are reviewed by Rodriguez in ”The Development of a Neurosurgeon-Scientist.” “How Two Successful Surgeons Have Made it Work” by Kemeny and Groff explores how a couple with dual surgical careers handle their shared responsibilities. Ciricillo provides the optic of supporting his partner during his undergraduate degree while pursuing a busy neurosurgical career in the article “Pay it Forward: Inclusive Support for Forthcoming Neurosurgeons.” This article also touches on the topic of sexual orientation, which will continued to be developed in the next issue.
As a guest editor for the “The Current Lenses of Neurosurgery” AANS Neurosurgeon, I’d like to thank Dr. Aruna Ganju, Editor, for giving us the opportunity to collaborate in sharing aspects of the changing landscape of neurosurgery. We hope that sharing experiences and allowing each of us to explore territories perhaps a bit “out of own comfort zone” will help us grow stronger as a community improving the care we deliver to our patients.
Reference
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2640049/
