Surgical Experience Disparity Between Male and Female Surgeons in Japan

Key Points Question Does gender disparity exist in the number of surgical experiences among male and female surgeons in Japan? Findings In this cross-sectional study covering 1 147 068 total operations in 6 surgical fields performed between 2013 and 2017, surgical experience was classified by surgeons’ gender and years of experience. The number of operations per surgeon was lower for female compared with male surgeons, except in the first 2 years after medical registration; this gender gap widened as the difficulty level of surgery increased. Meaning The findings indicate a marked disparity in the surgical experience of female and male surgeons in Japan.