Unmasking gender disparities in industry payments to U.S. surgeons: Royalty and consulting fees across surgical subspecialties

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

INTRODUCTION: Research demonstrates persistent gender-based pay disparities among U.S. surgeons. METHODS: We analyzed 2023 OpenPaymentsData.CMS.gov consulting and royalty (C/R) payments by pharmaceutical and medical device companies to surgeons, comparing gender differences across subspecialties. RESULTS: Of 5505 ​C/R payments totaling $23.9 million, $16.9 million were consulting fees with male surgeons (n ​= ​1,056, 87 ​%) receiving a total of $15,322,355 with a significantly higher mean consulting fee across subspecialties ($14,637 ​± ​$33,314) vs female (n ​= ​164; 13 ​%) ($9728 ​± ​$16,749.44, p ​= ​0.009). Median consulting fees for males ($4800.00, IQR $11,403) vs females ($4650.00, IQR $8778), (p ​= ​0.0005) Only one female received royalties vs 37 males ($298,836 vs. $6.66 million). CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal persistent and multifaceted gender disparities in both representation and industry remuneration across surgical subspecialties. Addressing these inequities is crucial to fostering transparency and equity in compensation within the healthcare industry.