Sofia Ionescu, World’s First Female Neurosurgeon

Opposing her dead father’s wishes of her becoming a homemaker, Sofia Ionescu became the world’s first female neurosurgeon, dedicating almost 50 years of her life towards patient care and saving lives. 

Born in Fălticeni, Romania, Sofia first considered pursuing a future in medicine upon becoming inspired by her hometown doctor, Dr. Vasile Dimitriu. Following this revelation, she insisted her mother enroll her in “the best school in the country,” the Maria Brâncoveanu Central School for Girls, excelling and graduating in 1933. She then studied in the attic by day and under streetlamps by night to secure her place in the Faculty of Human Medicine in Bucharest. Sofia’s last year at medical school was interrupted by World War II outbreaks, and she decided to serve as a volunteer for her people as the world suffered from. At this point, Sofia became known for her compassion – no matter if it be her own countrymen or war prisoners, she looked after each patient with utmost care, giving them the little relief they could find in war. 

After witnessing absolutely horrifying scenes of conflict, Sofia found more reason to serve the world as a neurosurgeon, securing herself an internship in the neurosurgical unit of the Central Hospital for mental, nervous, and endocrine diseases the next summer. This event marked her first contact with “The Golden Neurosurgical Team,” led by Professor Dimitrie Bagdasar, Dr. Constantin Arseni, and Dr. Ionel Ionescu. Sofia tells us, in a filmed interview, that “one decisive moment that came to shape her entire future and the lives of the many she touched” took place with this team, namely during her first operating experience where she saved the life of an 8-year-old comatose boy — when no one else would even dare operate. 

In 1945, Sofia graduated and married Dr. Ionel Ionescu, whom she spent 7 years living in the hospital with to ensure permanent watch in the emergency room. In total, she served 25 years as chief of the Cerebral Tumor Department and 22 years after that as chief of the Spinal Pathology Department. Later on, she became a mother of two to a daughter, Ioana, and a son, Constantin. 

Although well applauded for her achievements now, Sofia was constantly doubted in her time, with her title as the first female in the field of neurosurgery being heavily debated on for more than 3 decades. One event that brought her recognition happened later in her life: when her gender saved the life of a Sheik’s wife. The wife of Sheik Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, from Abu Dhabi, fell ill, yet no doctor nor neurosurgeon was allowed to heal her due to religious beliefs. As the Sheik requested the urgent presence of a female neurosurgeon, Sofia came to the rescue, staying at the woman’s side for a week and curing her. 

Passing away in 2008 after 88 years of hard work and devotion to the neurosurgical world, Sofia remains as one of the most influential and iconic neurosurgeons to exist, inspiring countless young women (and men) to this day.

Written by Renee Wang at Incisionary

APA References

Caterina, A. C., Filipescu, R., Stefan, F. I., Iszlai, L., Scalia, G., Graziano, F., & Chaurasia, B. (2024, October). Sofia Ionescu: Pioneering the Birth of Neurosurgery in Romania and

Becoming the First Female Neurosurgeon in the World. World Neurosurgery, 190, 14-19. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878875024010908

Ciurea, A.-V., Moisa, H. A., & Mohan, D. (2013, November). Sofia Ionescu, the First Woman Neurosurgeon in the World. World Neurosurgery, 80(5), 650-653. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878875013002969

European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. (n.d.). Sofia Ionescu-Ogrezeanu - Bio |

Diverse Leaders in Neurosurgery. Retrieved August 16, 2025, from https://www.eans.org/page/SofiaIonescu-Ogrezeanu-Bio