Is there a discrepancy in general surgery recertification rates between genders? An analysis of data from the American board of surgery

Introduction: The American Board of Surgery (ABS) recertification process is required to maintain certification. We hypothesized that the percentage of women becoming certified in General Surgery (GS) has increased over the past 40 years and that they stay in the workforce for a shorter period of time than their male counterparts. Methods: This is a retrospective study using deidentified ABS data. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square were used to compare male and female recertification rates. Significance was set at a p-value less than 0.05. Results: The percentage of women obtaining initial certification had a statistically significant increase over time. Female surgeons that achieved initial certification between 1998 and 2007 were seen to achieve first recertification at a higher rate. Despite that, maintaining recertification over subsequent decades lags behind that of male surgeons, specifically at the second recertification – 20-year time point. Conclusion: Overall, these data align with studies showing that female physicians exit the workforce at higher rates. This discrepancy in long-term recertification represents an opportunity to improve our clinical work environments so that all surgeons can thrive and have long, productive careers.