Surgical workforce maps and interactive Atlas
Explore national and specialty-specific resources that show how surgical workforce supply varied across the United States. Each collection identifies its historical data period so readers can separate archive evidence from current conditions.
Surgery Workforce Atlas
The modern Atlas interface presents the available state-level dataset in a searchable map and accessible table. Users can search by state or FIPS code, filter value bands, sort records, and open a state detail panel.
The source file contains 50 state records with the fields fips, name, and value. It does not contain a unit, denominator, county records, source date, or current access label, so the interface states those limitations instead of inferring them.
A map can reveal geographic pattern, but it does not explain cause by itself. Check the data year, specialty definition, denominator, and methodology before comparing places or drawing policy conclusions.
Surgical subspecialty supply maps
These December 2012 map sets compare 2006 and 2011 supply per 100,000 population and show change relative to population. Files open as PDFs.
Colorectal surgeons
Neurosurgeons
Ob/Gyn surgeons
Ophthalmologists
Orthopedic surgeons
Otolaryngological surgeons
Pediatric surgeons
Plastic surgery
Thoracic surgery
Urological surgery
Vascular surgery
Total and general surgeons
Exploring change in surgeon supply
Change in supply of total surgeons
Maps distinguish rural and urban counties that lost all active surgeons, had no surgeons in either comparison year, declined relative to population, or gained relative to population.
Change in supply of general surgeons
The companion collection applies the same historical comparison framework specifically to general surgeon supply.
Frequently asked questions
Are these maps current?
The downloadable specialty maps compare historical data from 2006 and 2011 and were released or revised in 2012. They remain useful for historical analysis, but they should not be described as today’s surgeon supply.
What does “per 100,000 population” mean?
It standardizes a provider count to a population of 100,000 so areas of different size can be compared. The measure does not by itself show travel time, hospital capacity, procedure volume, availability, or whether population need is met.
Why does the interactive Atlas show a value without a unit?
The current Atlas CSV provides only state FIPS, state name, and a value. Because the file does not include a unit, denominator, or source date, the interface labels the value as raw and explicitly displays the limitation.
Pair maps with the underlying research
Use the publication library for workforce reports, methods, and historical interpretation.