Defining Surgical Role Models and Their Influence on Career Choice

Abstract

Junior doctors were twice as likely to express interest in pursuing a surgical career if they identified a positive surgical role model. Changes in medical school demographics are occurring, with increasing proportions of female and graduate-entry doctors. These groups are less likely to choose a surgical career, so promoting interest in surgery will become increasingly important to maintain high-quality applicants. Defining and promoting perceptions of surgical role models to the wider surgical community may be one way of addressing this.