03 June 2009
This report provides useful evidence on how medical students choose what to specialise in and offers future areas for debate and research that will prove vital in ensuring surgery gets the best qualified candidates. One of the most interesting findings is that women tend to favour predictable work patterns and human interaction over technical disciplines. Managing surgical cases is both highly unpredictable and technical, going someway to explain why there are fewer women going into surgery.
The College remains committed to supporting all candidates wishing to pursue surgical careers. Our careers support services and Women in Surgery initiative both provide information and guidance to potential surgeons through a number of events and activities open to surgeons of all grades.
The report is available on the Royal College of Physicians' website
