[Women physicians in a surgical university clinic 1980 to 1996]

From 1980 to 1996 214 male and 51 female physicians were employed at the Department of Surgery of the University Hospital of Lübeck (Germany). The percentage of female surgeons increased from 13% in 1980 to 20% in 1996. Nowerdays female surgeons more often succeed in becoming a specialist, a ward physician or senior physician. Female physicians often quit their job in surgery because of reasons in their family background (child care, change of place of their husband's job).