Women in thoracic surgery: Asian perspective

Area of Science:

• Medical workforce analysis
• Surgical education
• Gender studies in medicine

Background:

• Japan experiences a significant shortage of surgeons, impacting healthcare delivery.
• The number of registered surgeons is declining, while the proportion of female physicians in surgery is gradually increasing.
• Japan's global gender gap ranking highlights systemic issues needing attention in professional fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical context of female surgeons in Japan.
• To analyze the current status and challenges faced by female surgeons in Japan.
• To explore strategies for creating a more inclusive and supportive surgical work environment for women.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of surgical workforce data in Japan.
• Analysis of statistics on surgeon demographics, including gender distribution.
• Examination of the global gender gap report in relation to the medical profession.

Main Results:

• Only 7.6% of The Japanese Associations for Chest Surgery members are female surgeons.
• While the overall number of new surgeons is declining, the percentage of female medical students and physicians entering surgery is rising.
• Japan ranks low globally in gender equality, indicating a need for workplace improvements.

Conclusions:

• There is a pressing need to address the gender gap in Japanese surgery.
• Creating inclusive and supportive environments is essential to retain and advance female surgeons.
• Further research and policy interventions are required to improve gender equality in the surgical field.