Grief in Neurosurgery: Reframing Loss and Identity Through Lived Experience.

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.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
PubMed
Published
2026-10-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1227/neuprac.0000000000000294
Primary Topic
Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

Grief in Neurosurgery: Reframing Loss and Identity Through Lived Experience.

Rupa Gopalan Juthani, Anna R. Kimata, Shelly D. Timmons, Vidhatri Raturi et al.
PubMed
Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
article

Grief in Neurosurgery: Reframing Loss and Identity Through Lived Experience.

Rupa Gopalan Juthani, Anna R. Kimata, Shelly D. Timmons, Vidhatri Raturi, Susan C. Pannullo, Sangami Pugazenthi, Karin Muraszko, Megan M. J. Bauman, Violette Recinos, Kimberly Kicielinski, Laura Snyder, Ian Parney, Angela M Richardson, Maryam Rahman, Erin N Walker, Kathleen S Botterbush
article en

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.

PubMedVol. 7(5)
Tulane University (US), Indiana University Health (US), Cleveland Clinic (US), Barrow Neurological Institute (US), Mayo Clinic (US), Medical University of South Carolina (US), University of South Carolina (US), Medical College of Wisconsin (US), Washington University in St. Louis (US), Brown University (US), University of Michigan (US), University of Florida Health (US), University of Florida (US), NYU Langone Health (US), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (US), Weill Cornell Medicine (US), Saint Louis University (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.