Milena Auretta Rosso is the first Italian neurosurgeon. She was born in 1943 in Genoa, Italy. In 1969, she graduated with honors from studying general medicine at the Sapienza University in Rome. In 1972, she completed her specialization at the same university and became the first neurosurgeon in Italy. She faced hostility and misogyny throughout her career. In 1974, she suffered an accident with a broken finger on her right hand, which ended her neurosurgery practice. She later pursued iridology and stayed in the medical field. She currently works in Rome, attends conferences and is the author of a book.