Gender Disparity Trends in Surgical Specialties: A 12-Year Analysis

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Specialties
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Women constitute nearly 50% of medical graduates, yet surgical fields remain male-dominated, especially in leadership.
• Gender-diverse surgical teams offer proven benefits, making female representation crucial for progress.
• Understanding trends in female representation is key to addressing persistent gender gaps in surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in female representation within surgical specialties from 2012 to 2024.
• To project the timeline for achieving gender parity (50% female representation) in various surgical fields.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational study using Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and Association of American Medical Colleges data (2012-2024).
• Analysis of eight surgical specialties, calculating annual female resident and applicant proportions.
• Linear and spline regression models used for trend assessment and projection; predictive modeling for gender parity timelines.

Main Results:

• Overall increase in female surgical residents from 2012-2024, varying by specialty.
• General surgery and thoracic surgery showed fastest growth (1.2% annually); general surgery projected for parity by 2026.
• Orthopedic surgery had the lowest proportion of female residents, with projected parity by 2042; neurological surgery by 2041.

Conclusions:

• Progress towards gender parity in surgical specialties is uneven, with some nearing it and others decades away.
• Targeted recruitment strategies, mentorship programs, and institutional policies are essential to accelerate gender equity.
• Continued monitoring of representation trends is vital for informed interventions in surgical education and practice.