OBJECTIVE: Assessing workforce diversity over time is essential to understanding how it has evolved and anticipating its future. We conducted the current study to evaluate gender, racial/ethnic, and duty trends over the past decade in general surgery and surgical subspecialties. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. We calculated ratios and relative changes to assess potential differences of physicians' characteristics across time and surgical subspecialties. SETTING: We evaluated data acquired by the Association of American Medical Colleges. PARTICIPANTS: We extracted data from the 2000 to 2013 including the overall number of surgeons, surgeon race/ethnicity, gender, and primary professional activity. RESULTS: During 2000 to 2013, the total number of surgeons increased 11.5%, reaching 172,062 active surgeons and residents, the majority of whom were White (64%) or male (75%). However, from 2000 to 2013, most specialties showed some improvement in terms of including minorities and females. Most surgeons (98%) participate in patient care while a small portion are devoted to other activities (e.g., administrative, research, teaching; 2%). Both groups increased over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the face of surgery is changing. Continuous monitoring of the surgical workforce is important to anticipate future needs and to serve a diverse patient population.
OBJECTIVE: Assessing workforce diversity over time is essential to understanding how it has evolved and anticipating its future. We conducted the current study to evaluate gender, racial/ethnic, and duty trends over the past decade in general surgery and surgical subspecialties. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. We calculated ratios and relative changes to assess potential differences of physicians' characteristics across time and surgical subspecialties. SETTING: We evaluated data acquired by the Association of American Medical Colleges. PARTICIPANTS: We extracted data from the 2000 to 2013 including the overall number of surgeons, surgeon race/ethnicity, gender, and primary professional activity. RESULTS: During 2000 to 2013, the total number of surgeons increased 11.5%, reaching 172,062 active surgeons and residents, the majority of whom were White (64%) or male (75%). However, from 2000 to 2013, most specialties showed some improvement in terms of including minorities and females. Most surgeons (98%) participate in patient care while a small portion are devoted to other activities (e.g., administrative, research, teaching; 2%). Both groups increased over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the face of surgery is changing. Continuous monitoring of the surgical workforce is important to anticipate future needs and to serve a diverse patient population.
Authors: Valeria S M Valbuena; Joy E Obayemi; Tanjala S Purnell; Velma P Scantlebury; Kim M Olthoff; Paulo N Martins; Robert S Higgins; Daryle M Blackstock; André A S Dick; Anthony C Watkins; Michael J Englesbe; Dinee C Simpson Journal: Curr Opin Organ Transplant Date: 2021-10-01 Impact factor: 2.269
Authors: Cherie P Erkmen; Katherine A Ortmeyer; Glenn J Pelletier; Ourania Preventza; David T Cooke Journal: Ann Thorac Surg Date: 2020-12-17 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Alexandra M Keane; Ellen L Larson; Katherine B Santosa; Bianca Vannucci; Jennifer F Waljee; Marissa M Tenenbaum; Susan E Mackinnon; Alison K Snyder-Warwick Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Date: 2021-03-01 Impact factor: 5.169
Authors: J Andres Hernandez; Carmen I Kloer; Denisse Porras Fimbres; Brett T Phillips; Linda C Cendales Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open Date: 2022-02-22