Unprecedented during our modern times, the advent of the COVID-19 global pandemic in 2020 has seen cancellations of in-person events. However, using audiovisual platforms, groups of women neurosurgeons continue to strive to connect to build and continue to foster both local and broader neurosurgery communities for women surgeons in practice, residents and medical students. One particular challenge has been to afford incoming medical students the opportunity to interact with and gain exposure to local women neurosurgeon mentors. Here, we present one example of connecting despite the challenges presented by the global pandemic.
On September 3, the women faculty and residents at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU, Cleveland, Ohio) held a virtual WINS inspired meet and greet happy hour event locally to provide the local medical students the opportunity to interact with women neurosurgery faculty and residents. The event hosted on the zoom audiovisual platform provided a lively discussion, with the opportunity for the students to glean advice about the neurosurgery residency application process, particularly from the several current women residents who recently went through the process, as well as overall advice regarding practice and career from faculty members. Prior women residency graduates were also invited and some attended the discussion. Four women neurosurgery faculty in the program attended the event.
The event was well received by those in attendance. It helped bring women of neurosurgery together and provided exposure for medical students to faculty and residents. Dr. Olindi Wijesekera, a second year resident at CWRU, mentions, “It’s a creative and accessible solution to the direct interaction and communication issues we face during this time. It’s productive in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.” She adds, “We hope to see more events such as this in the future.”
