Our Mission
Youth Outreach Initiative Encouraging Students to Pursue Neurosurgery
Founded by Dr. Aruna Ganju, a neurosurgeon at Northwestern Medicine, Project Synapse aims to address the lack of diversity in medicine, specifically neurosurgery, through youth outreach and community initiatives.
There is substantial research emphasizing the importance of diversity. People from different backgrounds bring their unique experiences and perspectives to the team, leading to innovation in problem solving. In medicine, it has been shown that better care is provided when healthcare professionals represent the populations they are serving, resulting in improved patient outcomes.
However, the medical workforce does not adequately represent the demographics of the general population. This is especially apparent in neurosurgery, where 12% of neurosurgeons are women and fewer than 4% of neurosurgical residents are black, indigenous and people of color.
Through interactive presentations, on-site field trips and summer programs, Project Synapse is encouraging students to discover and pursue careers in science and medicine.