Gender gap persists in surgical specialties with low female representation

A comprehensive analysis of over 1.1 million physicians reveals only 16.7% of surgeons are female, highlighting significant ongoing gender disparities in surgery. While there is a gradual increase in female representation, specialty-specific trends show that women are less likely to enter cardiac surgery compared to colorectal surgery. Variations related to practice setting and graduation year also influence surgical participation among female physicians. This research underscores the need for targeted initiatives to foster a more inclusive surgical workforce.