So, you want to be a neurosurgeon | Julie Pilitsis, MD,PhD | TEDxAlbany

So, you want to be a neurosurgeon | Julie Pilitsis, MD,PhD | TEDxAlbany

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. As immediate past chair of the American Association of Neurological surgeons/congress of neurological surgeons section on women in neurosurgery, I was instrumental in bringing our group from a fringe organization to a recognized section in our national organizations. The development of our “women leading the way” leadership program has filled a void in neurosurgical education and allowed partnering of women neurosurgeons with women in the medical device industry. A portion of our program focuses on mentorship of female medical students, which matches 70-80 female students with neurosurgeons. We continue to look at the issues that face women in neurosurgery residency and practice to promote retention (samadani et al, accepted Journal of Neurosurgery 2014)

Julie G Pilitsis MD, PhD completed an accelerated 6 yr BS/MD program at Rensselaer and Albany Medical College. She went on to complete a PHD and neurosurgical residency at Wayne State University. She then completed a fellowship at Rush University in Chicago in functional neurosurgery, specializing in deep brain stimulation and stimulation for chronic pain syndromes. She is an R01 funded associate professor at Albany Medical College and is well published in her field. She is currently the immediate past chair of the AANS/CNS section on women in neurosurgery and the current chair of the AANS/CNS section on pain.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

50 Comments

  1. Aneural on January 20, 2023 at 1:30 am

    Do i need prior education to go to a medical college? Or can i just go to that college with money?



  2. joseph charles on January 20, 2023 at 1:31 am

    Don’t believe this kind of people .
    Surgery is most dangerous Any problem in your organ thay will removed that organ and they say operation success. But every organ as got different functions .
    How I accept this stupids.



  3. Alton Akerberg on January 20, 2023 at 1:33 am

    I just wanna learn more about neurosurgery, anyone can be anything now just bc less people wanted to do this in a specific gender DOESNT mean they can’t 🙄



  4. Isaac Robles on January 20, 2023 at 1:35 am

    Is she pregnant? No wonder she is so emotionally detached from the topic. Must’ve been doing her PowerPoint while on her menstrual cycle.



  5. Sayan Dutta on January 20, 2023 at 1:36 am

    Too much about difference between men and women



  6. Harry Smith on January 20, 2023 at 1:36 am

    Wow loved the talk ab neurosurgery oh wait I mean gender inequality



  7. Nati on January 20, 2023 at 1:37 am

    ARE WE IGNORING THE 28 YEARS



  8. Christopher Prado on January 20, 2023 at 1:37 am

    I hate clickbaits. This have nothing to do with neurosurgery.



  9. Amruta Vitekar on January 20, 2023 at 1:38 am

    this is so fascinating!



  10. Anemon on January 20, 2023 at 1:39 am

    Ridiculous



  11. cootumrebel on January 20, 2023 at 1:40 am

    With that voice, I wonder how much she smokes.



  12. Imran Laskar on January 20, 2023 at 1:42 am

    Ma’am can i asked a question?



  13. jm7284 on January 20, 2023 at 1:45 am

    Misleading title.



  14. zuza0anna on January 20, 2023 at 1:45 am

    I’m extremely thankful for this talk, mostly for the last part. This is the problem, that face most of the female doctors, espacially surgeons and espacially in such men-dominated specializations. These are just the problems I’m facing at the moment: feeling not fitting in, thinking it’s impossible to cope neurosurgery with family life and asking myself if I’m strong/smart/skilled enough. Now I see I’m not the only one and that every women in neurosurgery went through these thoughts. That video gives strength, thank you once more. Huge thumb up!



  15. Zeno Barwari on January 20, 2023 at 1:47 am

    It is about neurosurgery. In an intimidating field that is male dominated, you need to recruit women too… especially when they have the obvious potential. Don’t be the statistic she’s talking about, push yourself and others.



  16. paliaphrodite on January 20, 2023 at 1:48 am

    I’m 14 years old and I’ve always been fascinated by the brain. I have complete hope and knowledge in the area. Not as much but I hope but I will learn more when I reach college and go deeper into anatomy in Senior year of high school and become a neurosurgeon because I want to help people. I strive for that and I want to achieve it. 🙂



  17. Chrysi Gabriel on January 20, 2023 at 1:49 am

    Wooooah



  18. Shobana Guru on January 20, 2023 at 1:50 am

    Although the title may be a little misleading, if people would take the time to read the video description then they would realize that she stuck to the point, and delivered according to her topic and what she came there to talk about. Great talk and very motivational!



  19. Rahimunnisa Begum on January 20, 2023 at 1:50 am

    She’s really influential! Empowering women to come to the field. <3



  20. xx xx on January 20, 2023 at 1:52 am

    She uses the same intonation and speaking style as Ivanka Trump



  21. Aaron Brown on January 20, 2023 at 1:53 am

    I don’t care about your victimhood. If sexism is a problem, just be too good to dismiss.



  22. JB on January 20, 2023 at 1:54 am

    This is not a neurosurgery talk. It’s gender equality.



  23. Muhammad Shaharyar Siddique on January 20, 2023 at 1:56 am

    What is the criteria to take admission in medical profession if you had done your Bachelor… i had done my bachelor in Material Engineering from Pakistan. (interested in biomaterials and want to be orthopaedic doctor)



  24. Josh O on January 20, 2023 at 1:57 am

    Turned it from neuroscience to her own politics. wtf



  25. maokal on January 20, 2023 at 1:57 am

    One day I’m as successful neurosurgeon



  26. Nnanyelugo Anekwe on January 20, 2023 at 2:00 am

    Boooorrrrrriiiiiinnnnnggggg. It was great till she began playing the gender card.



  27. Isaac Robles on January 20, 2023 at 2:00 am

    RENAMED VIDEO NAME: "Calling all feminists that want to be a neurosurgeon".



  28. rsciero on January 20, 2023 at 2:02 am

    y does she sound so unlikeable?



  29. Random Fella on January 20, 2023 at 2:02 am

    I’m 16 and I really don’t wanna watch this



  30. Dhanbir Poon on January 20, 2023 at 2:03 am

    I’m Dhan Pun from Nepal, wireless tiny multi device implant my brain & body by medical mafia I want to remove device but hear not available technology in Nepal please donate free my treatment contact no:+9779824217884 Facebook Dhan Puns help me please thanks



  31. awdayed on January 20, 2023 at 2:06 am

    There going to be a time where doctors like her on both sides will not treat patients on the other side, I thought we settled this



  32. john mcgillycuddy on January 20, 2023 at 2:06 am

    please ,, pass the sick bucket



  33. d.c. on January 20, 2023 at 2:07 am

    "feminism, i dont like that word"

    *spends over 13 minutes talking about it*

    lmao



  34. Victa Nguyen on January 20, 2023 at 2:08 am

    She deserves standing ovation



  35. Paula Mahone on January 20, 2023 at 2:11 am

    Dr. Pilitsis gave a wonderful, important presentation. The wisdom she imparted is for everyone interested in living an insightful, respectful, integrated existence. Most of her presentation informed us about what research tells us about diversity, higher education and success. She used the framework of her specialty which is neurosurgery. Occasionally, she provided us with her opinion and sometimes she shared her experience. Well done. I am saddened by the listeners who were not able to see the importance of her presentation. The title of the TED talk is just fine if you believe that this information is for everyone.



  36. P4P Highlights on January 20, 2023 at 2:12 am

    Bruh I thought this was about surgery not gender gaps 😐



  37. Q-Bits on January 20, 2023 at 2:13 am

    Man I thought this was about neurosurgery but it was just another lame talk about gender equality *moan*



  38. Peter C on January 20, 2023 at 2:14 am

    First half of the video was good… second half not so much…



  39. Sarza on January 20, 2023 at 2:15 am

    I want to be a neurosurgeon, I’m in medical school and I’m a women. I’m scared of it bc of all the points she outlined. 80hrs week, highest physician divorce rate….your life and happiness vs operating and saving lives more directly than any other type of physician.



  40. allnatural singh on January 20, 2023 at 2:19 am

    exactly…. 4 minutes of Neurosurgery, 13 minutes about FEMINISM.



  41. Bob Dole on January 20, 2023 at 2:22 am

    Maybe she should become a man. Her voice is nauseating.



  42. Noah Lail on January 20, 2023 at 2:22 am

    I listened for 10 minutes to realise it was a gender equality speech



  43. Aeden Roland on January 20, 2023 at 2:23 am

    lmao she said women get sued much less than men neurosurgeons but she obviously didnt account for the fact she stated earlier, that women only make up 2% of the neurosurgeons🤣



  44. Chosen Won on January 20, 2023 at 2:23 am

    Another pissed off woman. Let me guess, she doesn’t date and has dogs.



  45. Anonymous Human on January 20, 2023 at 2:24 am

    Saying “sooo” a billion times was obnoxious, combined with your voice = unbearable



  46. maokal on January 20, 2023 at 2:24 am

    يالله يوما ما انا جراحة مخ واعصاب ناجحه



  47. Paul Varn on January 20, 2023 at 2:25 am

    "So, you want to be a [woman] neurosurgeon. Good example of someone with the skills and fortitude to do it and encourage other women to do hard things. As someone about to have spinal surgery, I would certainly be confident with her. One thing the Nurse Practitioner revolution is reminding us is women are wired to be comforters and healers. I would like to see more take advantage of that advantage. She didn’t demean men much and emphasized team work a little, to her credit.



  48. SAINT on January 20, 2023 at 2:25 am

    I think it’s good to give other people a basis and general understanding of being a female neurosurgeon and providing us with her perspective but “how to keep women in neurosurgery” like? Stop. Just continue talking about the career and your experiences. People that pursue neurology are passionate in that topic. If more men are passionate about it, then? Encourage people to pursue their interests, not establish the differences between the two genders, unless it’s extremely significant. Women will come into the field if they want to.



  49. Aaron Brown on January 20, 2023 at 2:25 am

    She is really nasally.



  50. AwkwardMedStudent on January 20, 2023 at 2:26 am

    Great presentation, I just stopped watching at 8:21 🙂