title: Sofia Ionescu, the first woman neurosurgeon in the world.
abstract: The authors present the activity of Mrs. Sofia Ionescu, the one female surgeon who was nominated as the first woman neurosurgeon in the world. Sofia Ionescu worked in the field of neurosurgery for 47 years, performing all the known neurosurgical procedures of the time. She made herself known through her incredible surgical skill and her enormous work power. Due to her incredible modesty and workload, she never participated at international congresses or manifestations. The nomination as first woman neurosurgery took place in Marrakech, Morocco, during the 2005 WFNS Congress. Although some claim that Diana Beck was the first woman neurosurgeon in the world, our theory suggests otherwise. The first documented surgical intervention performed by Diana Beck dates to 1952. Sofia Ionescu operated for the first time on a human brain as early as 1944. Furthermore, Diana Beck's actions surfaced in the year 1947, long after the war had ended and Sofia Ionescu had become a neurosurgeon.
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University School of Medicine, The National Center for Excellence in Neurosurgery, Bagdasar-Arseni Teaching Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Alexandru-Vlad
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ciurea
authors.forename: Horatiu Alexandru
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Moisa
authors.forename: Dumitru
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mohan
mesh_terms: D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000266:history*; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000266:history*; D012383:Romania; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Dumitru Bagdasar; First woman neurosurgeon; Harvey Cushing; History of neurosurgery; Romania; Sofia Ionescu; WFNS