THE IDENTIFICATION AND THE EDUCATION OF A PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGEON AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

Although the field of application of pediatric neurosurgery is easily identified by the age criterion as well as the specific illnesses of c hildren, the ''pediatric neurosurgeon'' is still fairly undefined. In fact, the evolution of the process by which the pediatric neurosurgeon is identified is quite different in the various countries, depending on the cultural environment, the socioeconomic level and the age distr ibution of the population. In North America, in recent years there has been activity aimed at obtaining full independence for pediatric neur osurgery. On the other hand, as a result of inertia, academic traditio n and the health care system, Europe only appears to be willing to rec ognize this subspecialty culturally and to oppose its actual independe nce from general neurosurgery.