The underestimated role of pioneering women in radiation oncology: lessons from the past for today's practice.

IF 2.7 3区 医学 Q3 ONCOLOGY
Michael Oertel, Vina Zielonka, Uwe Busch, Uwe Haverkamp, Maike Trommer, Angela Besserer, Franziska Eckert, Jilada Wilhelm, Rita Engenhart-Cabillic, Hans-Georg Hofer, Hans Theodor Eich, Oliver Micke
{"title":"The underestimated role of pioneering women in radiation oncology: lessons from the past for today's practice.","authors":"Michael Oertel, Vina Zielonka, Uwe Busch, Uwe Haverkamp, Maike Trommer, Angela Besserer, Franziska Eckert, Jilada Wilhelm, Rita Engenhart-Cabillic, Hans-Georg Hofer, Hans Theodor Eich, Oliver Micke","doi":"10.1007/s00066-025-02386-z","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The early history of radiation and radiation oncology is imprinted by innovative pioneers both in physics and clinical application. Despite the remarkable example of Marie Curie, the contributions of female physicians, physicists, and radiation therapists in the first years of radiation practice are often forgotten or neglected. This analysis aims at a comprehensive review of pivotal female pioneers in the field of radiation oncology and summarizes current and future challenges with regard to gender equality in the radiation oncology workforce.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The History and Women in Radiation Oncology working groups of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) conducted a selective literature research on Marie Kundt, Marietta Blau, Elisabeth Fleischmann, and Anna Hamann, who were chosen as representative examples of female pioneers. Medical and sociological analyses were selected to illustrate the present situation and point out future challenges.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The review illustrates that women in radiation oncology in the late 19th/early 20th century were hindered in enrolling in educational institutions and in pursuing an equal (and recognized) professional career; they were also subject to discrimination. Thus, great dedication and personal sacrifices were needed to succeed. Despite this, significant contributions were made by women, and the four discussed colleagues contributed to or even enabled the formation of critical aspects of modern radiation oncology, such as X‑ray imaging, radiation physics, different treatment techniques, and the profession of radiation technicians. Lacking adequate radiation protection at the time, their inspirational spirit came at a significant cost, and three of the four presented pioneers (MB, EF, and AH) succumbed to irradiation-induced cancers. Today, modern analyses still show that female professionals tend to drop out during their career before professorship or head of department positions and are therefore underrepresented in these career stages.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The history of women in radiation oncology is marked by discrimination and great personal and professional sacrifices. Despite these challenges, female pioneers contributed to the development of modern radiation oncology in a significant way. Today, gender disparities in the workforce persist and constitute challenges which need to be addressed to enable equal access to leading positions.</p>","PeriodicalId":21998,"journal":{"name":"Strahlentherapie und Onkologie","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Strahlentherapie und Onkologie","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-025-02386-z","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ONCOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: The early history of radiation and radiation oncology is imprinted by innovative pioneers both in physics and clinical application. Despite the remarkable example of Marie Curie, the contributions of female physicians, physicists, and radiation therapists in the first years of radiation practice are often forgotten or neglected. This analysis aims at a comprehensive review of pivotal female pioneers in the field of radiation oncology and summarizes current and future challenges with regard to gender equality in the radiation oncology workforce.

Methods: The History and Women in Radiation Oncology working groups of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) conducted a selective literature research on Marie Kundt, Marietta Blau, Elisabeth Fleischmann, and Anna Hamann, who were chosen as representative examples of female pioneers. Medical and sociological analyses were selected to illustrate the present situation and point out future challenges.

Results: The review illustrates that women in radiation oncology in the late 19th/early 20th century were hindered in enrolling in educational institutions and in pursuing an equal (and recognized) professional career; they were also subject to discrimination. Thus, great dedication and personal sacrifices were needed to succeed. Despite this, significant contributions were made by women, and the four discussed colleagues contributed to or even enabled the formation of critical aspects of modern radiation oncology, such as X‑ray imaging, radiation physics, different treatment techniques, and the profession of radiation technicians. Lacking adequate radiation protection at the time, their inspirational spirit came at a significant cost, and three of the four presented pioneers (MB, EF, and AH) succumbed to irradiation-induced cancers. Today, modern analyses still show that female professionals tend to drop out during their career before professorship or head of department positions and are therefore underrepresented in these career stages.

Conclusion: The history of women in radiation oncology is marked by discrimination and great personal and professional sacrifices. Despite these challenges, female pioneers contributed to the development of modern radiation oncology in a significant way. Today, gender disparities in the workforce persist and constitute challenges which need to be addressed to enable equal access to leading positions.

妇女先驱在放射肿瘤学中被低估的作用:从过去的经验教训到今天的实践。
目的:放射学和放射肿瘤学的早期历史是由物理学和临床应用的创新先驱留下的印记。尽管玛丽居里是一个杰出的榜样,但女性医生、物理学家和放射治疗师在放射实践的最初几年里的贡献经常被遗忘或忽视。本分析旨在全面回顾放射肿瘤学领域的关键女性先驱,并总结当前和未来在放射肿瘤学工作人员性别平等方面的挑战。方法:德国放射肿瘤学学会(DEGRO)放射肿瘤学史与女性工作组对Marie Kundt、Marietta Blau、Elisabeth Fleischmann、Anna Hamann等女性先锋代表进行选择性文献研究。选择了医学和社会学分析来说明现状并指出未来的挑战。结果:回顾表明,在19世纪末/ 20世纪初,从事放射肿瘤学的女性在进入教育机构和追求平等(和公认的)职业生涯方面受到阻碍;他们也受到歧视。因此,成功需要巨大的奉献精神和个人牺牲。尽管如此,女性还是做出了重大贡献,这四位被讨论的同事对现代放射肿瘤学的关键方面做出了贡献,甚至促成了这些方面的形成,如X射线成像、放射物理学、不同的治疗技术和放射技术人员的职业。由于当时缺乏足够的辐射防护,他们的鼓舞精神付出了巨大的代价,四位获奖的先驱者中有三位(MB, EF和AH)死于辐射引起的癌症。今天,现代分析仍然表明,在担任教授或系主任职位之前,女性专业人士往往会在职业生涯中退出,因此在这些职业阶段的代表性不足。结论:女性放射肿瘤学的历史充满了歧视和巨大的个人和职业牺牲。尽管面临这些挑战,女性先驱者对现代放射肿瘤学的发展做出了重大贡献。今天,劳动力中的性别差异仍然存在,并构成了需要解决的挑战,以实现平等获得领导职位的机会。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
CiteScore
5.70
自引率
12.90%
发文量
141
审稿时长
3-8 weeks
期刊介绍: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie, published monthly, is a scientific journal that covers all aspects of oncology with focus on radiooncology, radiation biology and radiation physics. The articles are not only of interest to radiooncologists but to all physicians interested in oncology, to radiation biologists and radiation physicists. The journal publishes original articles, review articles and case studies that are peer-reviewed. It includes scientific short communications as well as a literature review with annotated articles that inform the reader on new developments in the various disciplines concerned and hence allow for a sound overview on the latest results in radiooncology research. Founded in 1912, Strahlentherapie und Onkologie is the oldest oncological journal in the world. Today, contributions are published in English and German. All articles have English summaries and legends. The journal is the official publication of several scientific radiooncological societies and publishes the relevant communications of these societies.
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信