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

Although women comprise nearly 50% of medical school graduates, surgical specialties remain disproportionately male, particularly in leadership roles. Prior studies highlight the benefits of gender-diverse surgical teams. Understanding trends in female representation is essential to closing persistent gaps. This study aimed to assess trends in female representation across surgical specialties from 2012 to 2024 and estimate when gender parity might be achieved.

We conducted a retrospective observational study using publicly available data on surgical residents from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and applicant data from the Association of American Medical Colleges covering academic years 2012-2024. Eight surgical specialties were analyzed. Annual proportions of female residents and applicants were calculated. Linear regression assessed annual change in female resident representation within each specialty. Additionally, spline regression models were used to visualize changes in representation over time and to generate projections. Predictive modeling estimated when each specialty might reach gender parity (50% female representation). A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The proportion of female surgical residents increased steadily over the 12-year period, with variation across specialties. General surgery and thoracic surgery exhibited the fastest annual growth in female representation, increasing by 1.2% per year (P < 0.001), where general surgery is projected to reach gender parity by 2026. General surgery continues to have the highest total number of female surgical residents. Integrated plastic surgery also grew significantly (1.0% median annual increase; P < 0.001), reaching 47% female residents in 2024. Integrated thoracic surgery had the largest percentage increase in female residents from 2012 to 2024 (+13.4%), followed by general surgery (+12.7%) and integrated plastic surgery (+9.4%). Thoracic surgery is projected to reach parity by 2039 with a median annual growth of 1.2% (P < 0.001). Orthopedic surgery had the lowest proportion of female residents, with a median annual increase of only 0.7% (P < 0.001) and projected parity by 2042. Neurological surgery increased by 0.8% annually (P = <0.001) and is projected to reach parity by 2041.

While some surgical specialties are on track to reach gender parity soon, others remain decades away. Targeted recruitment, mentorship, and institutional policies supporting gender equity are critical to accelerate progress across the field.