Grief in Neurosurgery: Reframing Loss and Identity Through Lived Experience.
Abstract
Grief is an under-recognized yet pervasive experience in neurosurgery, arising not only from the death of patients and loved ones but also from losses related to professional identity, health, and personal relationships. Despite its relevance, grief is often conflated with burnout or overlooked entirely within surgical culture. When personal adversity strikes, such as loss, illness, or major life upheaval, the intensity of neurosurgical practice can amplify these challenges, influencing professional identity, performance, and overall resilience. As the field continues to evolve and diversify, it is increasingly important to foster open dialogue about vulnerability, personal hardship, and life beyond the operating room. This perspective examines how neurosurgeons experience and process loss, distinguishing grief from burnout and resilience, and highlighting the need for institutional and cultural change.
// Source
Authors: Erin N Walker, Vidhatri Raturi, Kathleen S Botterbush, Anna R. Kimata, Sangami Pugazenthi, Megan M. J. Bauman, Ian Parney, Kimberly Kicielinski, Karin Muraszko, Violette Recinos, Shelly D. Timmons, Laura Snyder, Susan C. Pannullo, Rupa Gopalan Juthani, Angela M Richardson, Maryam Rahman
Institutions: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Florida, University of South Carolina, Tulane University, Brown University, University of Michigan, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, NYU Langone Health, Mayo Clinic, Medical University of South Carolina, Indiana University Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Medical College of Wisconsin, Barrow Neurological Institute, University of Florida Health