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.
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.