Gender Disparities in Surgical Subspecialties: A CMS Data Analysis

Area of Science:

• Medical Workforce Analysis
• Surgical Education and Practice
• Health Equity Research

Background:

• Persistent gender disparities in surgery despite medical education advancements.
• Need for nuanced analysis of female representation in surgical disciplines.
• Underrepresentation of women in surgery is a critical medical profession concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• Analyze gender distribution in surgical specialties.
• Identify factors contributing to the gender gap in surgery.
• Provide insights into gender representation dynamics in surgery.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 1,168,064 physicians from the 2023 Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services National Downloadable Database.
• Distinguished between surgeons and physicians in medical subspecialties.
• Employed univariable and multivariable logistic regression to explore contributing factors.

Main Results:

• Only 16.7% of surgeons identified as female, with slow temporal increases in representation.
• Significant specialty-specific variations observed, with lower female likelihoods in cardiac surgery and higher in colorectal surgery.
• Female physicians showed a lower likelihood of practicing surgery, influenced by demographic, regional, and graduation year variations.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based insights into the persistent gender gap in surgical specialties.
• Highlights the need for targeted interventions to enhance inclusivity and equity in the surgical workforce.
• Findings lay the foundation for initiatives promoting a more diverse and inclusive surgical environment.