Dr.med. Maryam U. S. Sherman from Kenya

From Curiosity to Calling: My Journey in Neurosurgery

I currently serve as an attending neurosurgeon in the neurosurgery and spine surgery department at a Hospital in Germany.

My journey into medicine began as a young premedical graduate at McDaniel College Budapest, full of ambition but with limited life experience. After successfully passing my entrance examinations, I enrolled at Semmelweis University. However, coming from a protected upbringing in Kenya, I quickly realized that academic knowledge alone would not be enough to shape me into the kind of physician I aspired to become.

I made the unconventional decision to take a sabbatical from my studies, an experience that would profoundly influence both my personal and professional development. During this time, I travelled to the United States of America and I immersed myself in everyday life, working a variety of jobs including painting, au pair work, gardening, woodworking, and construction. These experiences allowed me to understand people from different walks of life and taught me humility, resilience, and empathy, qualities that are essential in medicine but often learned outside the classroom.

Eventually, my path led me back into medicine where I worked as a laboratory assistant in the anatomy and cell biology department at the Medical University of South Carolina. This experience reignited my passion for medicine and provided me with the maturity and perspective I needed to continue my education with purpose.

I returned to Semmelweis University to complete my medical studies. After graduation, I initially explored opportunities in Sweden and Norway, but ultimately chose Germany, drawn by both professional opportunities and a more favourable environment for me personally. Learning German and adapting to a new healthcare system was a significant challenge, but also an important step in my journey.

I began my clinical career in a general surgery department, where I spent six months gaining insight into the German medical system. However, my goal had always been clear: I wanted to become a neurosurgeon. Within nine months of arriving in Germany, I secured a residency position in neurosurgery in a small town in North Rhine-Westphalia. There, I dedicated myself to mastering not only the fundamentals of neurosurgery and spine surgery but also the complex medical language in German, essentially relearning my entire medical vocabulary.

After three years of intensive training, I felt ready to take the next step and applied for a university-level position. I was honoured to be accepted into the Neurosurgical department by Prof. Dr. Piek at the University of Rostock. Under his mentorship and that of his team, I developed both technically and professionally. In April 2020, I successfully passed my board examination and became a certified neurosurgeon.

Yet, this milestone marked not an end, but a new beginning. Driven by a desire to further specialize, I pursued a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery in Hamburg under the mentorship of Dr. Hagemann. This experience was transformative, as it revealed the unique challenges and nuances of treating pediatric patients, highlighting that pediatric neurosurgery is truly a distinct discipline within the field.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many international pediatric fellowship opportunities were postponed. During this time, I redirected my focus toward my underdeveloped training which was spine surgery, an area in which I have since developed extensive expertise. I trained in multiple centers, gaining proficiency in advanced techniques such as neuronavigation-guided and X-ray-guided spinal instrumentation. I obtained certification from the Deutsche Wirbelsäulengesellschaft and later completed advanced training and in the near future I plan to culminating a Master’s degree in spine surgery.

In parallel, I achieved German certification in pediatric neurosurgery and have continued to expand my skill set through training in endoscopic brain and spine surgery. My current goal is to further refine minimally invasive techniques, enabling smaller surgical approaches and faster recovery for my patients.

I am deeply grateful to my alma mater, Semmelweis University, for providing the academic foundation upon which my career has been built. The institution not only equipped me with medical knowledge but also fostered the discipline and curiosity that continue to guide me today.

Overcoming Challenges

Throughout my training, challenges have been constant and welcome. As a woman in neurosurgery, and as someone working in a foreign country, I have faced obstacles related to gender, race, and origin. However, I have learned that these challenges should never define or limit one’s potential.

What matters most is having a clear purpose and the determination to pursue it. There will always be moments of doubt, but it is essential not to lose sight of the bigger picture. Every difficulty is an opportunity to grow, every setback a lesson.

Advice to the younger physician and surgeons to be:

Medicine is not just a career it is a lifelong journey of growth, humility, and purpose. As a student, you may feel pressure to have everything figured out early, but the truth is: you don’t need to. What matters is your willingness to learn, to adapt, and to keep moving forward.

Do not be afraid to take unconventional paths. Every experience you gain whether inside or outside medicine, shapes you into a better doctor. Understanding people, their struggles, and their realities is just as important as understanding anatomy or surgical technique.

You will face challenges. Some will come from the demands of the profession itself, others from societal expectations, bias, or self-doubt. Especially as a woman, or as someone from a different background, you may sometimes feel the need to prove yourself more. Do not let that discourage you. Let it strengthen your resolve.

Stay focused on your purpose. Always remind yourself why you started. When things become difficult, and they will return to that purpose. It will carry you through the long nights, the setbacks, and the moments of uncertainty.

Be patient with yourself. Growth takes time. Excellence is not built overnight but through consistency, discipline, and resilience.

Most importantly: never give up. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn. Every obstacle is part of your story. Keep going, even when it feels hard, especially then.

Your journey will not look like anyone else’s, and that is your strength.