LAUSR

BACKGROUND Textual analysis of obituaries provides insight into the shared values of a profession or community. Neurosurgeon obituaries are frequently published in both the medical literature and the lay press, but the content of these works has never been analyzed. METHODS Using obituary pieces from Neurosurgery, Journal of Neurosurgery, and the New York Times, frequent terms are quantified through preliminary text analysis to derive the relative importance of concepts such as innovation, research, training and family. The sentiment of these obituaries is qualitatively reviewed to approximate perceptions of neurosurgical legacy within the profession and the general public. RESULTS Thirty relevant obituaries with full text available were identified in the Journal of Neurosurgery, 14 in Neurosurgery, and 23 in the New York Times. Both neurosurgical journals and lay press articles relied on linear narratives, with greater emphasis on professional leadership and residency training in neurosurgical journals, and proportionally greater mention of family in the lay press. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary text analysis of neurosurgeon obituaries suggest what values are shared among the professional community and general public with regard to the legacy of a neurosurgeon.