Table 1
Speakers’ characteristics.
| GENERAL ASSEMBLY YEAR | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2021 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total | |
| Number of speakers n, (%) | 22 (21.2) | 19 (18.3) | 21 (20.2) | 24 (23.1) | 18 (17.3) | 104 |
| Female speakers, n (%) | 19 (86.4) | 14 (73.7) | 19 (90.5) | 21 (87.5) | 18 (17.3) | 87 (83.7) |
| Speakers with leadership positions, n (%) | 14 (63.6) | 9 (47.4) | 11 (52.4) | 20 (83.3) | 13 (72.2) | 67 (64.4) |
| Speakers with multiple degrees, n (%) | 4 (18.8) | 9 (47.4) | 10 (47.6) | 10 (41.7) | 5 (27.8) | 38 (36.5) |
| MD as a higher degree, n (%) | 10 (45.4) | 15 (78.9) | 12 (57.1) | 15 (62.5) | 13 (72.2) | 65 (62.5) |
| PhD as a higher degree, n (%) | 1 (4.5) | 4 (21.1) | 5 (23.8) | 5 (20.80) | 2 (11.1) | 17 (16.4) |
| Masters as a higher degree, n (%) | 1 (4.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (12.5) | 1 (5.6) | 5 (4.8) |
| Medical students, n (%) | 10 (45.4) | 0 (0) | 4 (19.0) | 1 (4.2) | 1 (5.6) | 16 (15.4) |
| HIC speakers, n (%) | 15 (68.2) | 8 (42.1) | 15 (71.4) | 13 (54.2) | 12 (66.7) | 63 (60.6) |
| LMIC speakers, n (%) | 7 (31.8) | 11 (57.9) | 6 (28.6) | 11 (45.8) | 6 (33.3) | 41 (39.4) |
[i] Note: Table 1 describes the characteristics of the speakers across the five editions of the GEIGS General Assembly (2020–2025). HIC, high‑income countries; LMIC, low‑ and middle‑income countries.
Figure 1
Speakers’ country of practice.
Note: Figure 1 illustrates the geographic distribution of GEIGS General Assembly speakers by country, categorized by high‑income countries (HICs) and low‑ and middle‑income countries (LMICs). Created with Datawrapper.
Table 2
Credentials of speakers in LMICs vs HICs.
| HIC (N = 63) | LMIC (N = 41) | P‑VALUE | β; [95% CI] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female speakers, n (%) | 53 (84.1) | 34 (82.9) | 0.087 | 0.085; [–0.016 – 0.185] |
| Speakers with leadership positions, n (%) | 40 (63.5) | 27 (65.9) | 0.142 | 0.095; [–0.040 – 0.230] |
| Speakers with multiple degrees, n (%) | 24 (38.1) | 14 (34.2) | 0.161 | 0.114; [–0.056 – 0.286] |
| MD as a higher degree, n (%) | 40 (63.5) | 25 (61.0) | 0.060 | 3.00; [–0.166 – 6.166] |
| PhD as a higher degree, n (%) | 8 (12.7) | 9 (22.0) | 0.828 | –0.031; [–0.351 – 0.289] |
| Medical students, n (%) | 11 (17.5) | 5 (12.2) | 0.389 | 0.078; [–0.119 – 0.276] |
| Speakers who have previously spoken at conferences, n (%) | 49 (77.8) | 28 (68.3) | 0.160 | 4.20; [–2.566 – 10.966] |
| Citation median [IQR] | 253 [45–753] | 53 [0–410] | 0.342* | — |
[i] Note: Table 2 presents an overall comparison of speaker credentials between high‑income countries (HICs) and low and middle‑income countries (LMICs). β is the coefficient of the linear regression analysis; 95% CI is the confidence interval.
[ii] *The p‑value of citation median was generated from a Mann–Whitney U test.
Table 3
Speakers’ professional specialties.
| SPEAKERS’ PROFESSIONAL SPECIALTY, N (%) | 2020 (N = 22) | 2021 (N = 19) | 2023 (N = 21) | 2024 (N = 24) | 2025 (N = 18) | TOTAL (N = 104) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obstetrics and gynecology | 1 (4.5) | 1 (5.3) | 3 (14.3) | 3 (12.5) | 3 (16.7) | 11 (10.6) |
| Global surgery | 2 (9.1) | 0 (0) | 2 (9.5) | 1 (4.2) | 3 (16.7) | 8 (7.7) |
| Neurosurgery | 2 (9.1) | 2 (10.5) | 1 (4.7) | 1 (4.2) | 2 (11.1) | 8 (7.7) |
| Trauma surgery | 2 (9.1) | 3 (15.8) | 1 (4.7) | 0 (0) | 1 (5.6) | 7 (6.7) |
| Pediatric surgery | 0 (0) | 3 (15.8) | 0 (0) | 3 (12.5) | 0 (0) | 6 (5.8) |
| General surgery | 0 (0) | 2 (10.5) | 2 (9.5) | 2 (8.3) | 0 (0) | 6 (5.8) |
| Public health | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (14.3) | 2 (8.3) | 1 (5.6) | 6 (5.8) |
| Endocrine surgery | 0 (0) | 2 (10.5) | 1 (4.7) | 2 (8.3) | 0 (0) | 5 (4.8) |
| Plastic and reconstructive surgery | 1 (4.5) | 1 (5.3) | 0 (0) | 2 (8.3) | 1 (5.6) | 5 (4.8) |
| Thoracic surgery | 1 (4.5) | 2 (10.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (5.6) | 4 (3.8) |
| Internal medicine | 1 (4.5) | 2 (10.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (2.9) |
| Orthopedic surgery | 1 (4.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (8.3) | 0 (0) | 3 (2.9) |
| Global health | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (9.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (1.9) |
| Surgical oncology | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (8.3) | 0 (0) | 2 (1.9) |
| Urology surgery | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (4.7) | 1 (4.2) | 0 (0) | 2 (1.9) |
| Bariatric surgery | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (11.1) | 2 (1.9) |
| Vascular surgery | 1 (4.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (5.6) | 2 (1.9) |
| Anesthesiology | 0 (0) | 1 (5.3) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.9) |
| Otorhinolaryngology | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (4.2) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.9) |
| Pediatrics | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (4.2) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.9) |
| Transplant surgery | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (4.7) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.9) |
[i] Note: Table 3 outlines the distribution of speaker professional specialities across the GEIGS General Assemblies from 2020 to 2025.
Table 4
GA sessions and main themes.
| 2020 (N = 10) | 2021 (N = 9) | 2023 (N = 13) | 2024 (N = 12) | 2025 (N = 12) | TOTAL (N = 56) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Themes | Session Title | |||||
| Diversity, Gender Equity, and Inclusion, n (%) | 2 (20.0) | 5 (55.6) | 2 (15.4) | 5 (41.7) | 3 (25.0) | 17 (30.4) |
| Intersectionality | Patient Preference on Their Physician Gender? How to Overcome It | The Urgent Need for Gender Affirming Care | Advancing Transgender Health Equity: A Call to Action | Education Without Borders: Collaborative Efforts for Inclusive and Quality Learning | ||
| Diversity, Equity, and Justice in Global Surgery | Male Allies—How Can Majority Identities Take Steps to Further Gender Equity | Women in Global Surgery Equity in Leadership | Advancing Gender Equity in Global Surgical Education | Gender Equity in Surgical Training and Workforce Development | ||
| Panel with Global Women Surgeon | Global Access to Gender Affirming Surgery and Transgender Care | From Representation to Transformation: Lived Experiences and Leadership in the Fight Against Inequality | ||||
| Intersectionality | Ensuring Gender Inclusive and Safe Spaces in Global Health Conferences | |||||
| Gender Inequities in COVID‑19 Leadership and How We May All “Build Back Better” | How Not to Make Diversity Equity and Inclusion a Checkbox Exercise | |||||
| Advocacy, Policy, and Structural Change, n (%) | 1 (10.0) | 2 (22.2) | 2 (15.4) | 4 (33.3) | 5 (41.7) | 14 (25.0) |
| Advocacy Session | Global Surgery the Current Landscape | Advocacy for Global Surgery Insights | How to Minimize Duplicating Efforts by Global Surgery Organizations | Empowerment Access and Sustainable Well‑Being | ||
| Advocacy Session | Insights on Climate Change and Global Health | Role of Gender in Countryside Surgical, Anesthesia, and Obstetric Plans and Policies | Advocacy in Gender Equity: Using Social Media to Build Community and Drive Change | |||
| Workplace Policies Guarantee Gender Equality in the Surgical Workforce | Saving Mothers, Saving Futures: Blood, Health, and Human Rights | |||||
| Empowering Change Through Allyship | Women Leading Climate Action in Surgery: A Path Toward SDG 13 | |||||
| Building Equitable Surgical Systems: The Role of Peace, Justice, and Gender Inclusive Institutions | ||||||
| Research and Innovation, n (%) | 1 (10.0) | 1 (11.1) | 3 (23.1) | 1 (8.3) | 1 (8.3) | 7 (12.5) |
| Research Session | Research Session | Journal Club as a Mean to Advance Research | Representation of Women in Scientific Research Journals | Applications of AI in Global Surgery | ||
| Innovations in Global Surgery | ||||||
| Breaking Barriers and Promoting Equity in Research in Surgery | ||||||
| Mentorship and Career Development, n (%) | 1 (10.0) | 1 (11.1) | 2 (15.4) | 1 (8.3) | 1 (8.3) | 6 (10.7) |
| Mentorship Session | Is an Academic Career the Right Fit for Me? | Mentorship: How to Make the Best of This Relationship | Navigating Mentor–Mentee Relationships | Identifying Microaggressions in Surgical Systems and Learning How to Deal with Them | ||
| Youth in Global Surgery | ||||||
| Work‑Life Balance and Gender Expectations, n (%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (23.1) | 1 (8.3) | 0(0) | 4 (7.1) |
| Women in Surgery: The Experience of The First Woman to Perform a Liver Transplant | Escaping War and Conflict as a Female Pediatric Surgeon in Afghanistan | |||||
| Family Planning and Work‑Life Integration | ||||||
| Addressing Health‑Care Workers’ Mental Health | ||||||
| Regional Insights, n (%) | 3 (30.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0(0) | 3 (5.4) |
| Centering the Global South | ||||||
| Regional Session (WPRO and SEARO) | ||||||
| Regional Session (EURO and AFRO) | ||||||
| GEIGS Internal Insights, n (%) | 2 (20.0) | 0 (0) | 1 (7.6) | 0 (0) | 1(8.3) | 4 (7.1) |
| Panel with Junior Advisors and Founders | History of GEIGS | History of GEIGS | ||||
| Message from the Chairs | ||||||
[i] Note: Table 4 describes the main themes and corresponding session titles featured at GEIGS General Assemblies from 2020 to 2025. WPRO: Western Pacific Region; SEARO: Southeast Asia Region; AFRO: African Region; EURO: European Region; SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals.