Gender differences among board-certified general surgeons in Israel: demographics, professional advancement, and leadership

Background

Women remain underrepresented in general surgery leadership and academic roles globally, yet specialty-specific data from Israel are limited. This study examines gender differences among board-certified general surgeons in Israel across demographic, professional, and leadership domains.

Methods

A cross-sectional, confidential questionnaire was distributed electronically to all board-certified general surgeons registered with the Israeli Surgical Association in 2026. A total of 105 surgeons responded (15.2%). Participants were stratified by gender and compared across demographic characteristics, employment patterns, operative scope, fellowship training, academic activity, and management roles.

Results