THE Ministry of Health's statistics on the number of doctors showed that there are 71,000 male and female physicians in the Kingdom, of whom 17,000 are Saudis. The number of female Saudi doctors is 5,500, accounting for 32 percent of the total number of Saudi doctors and 7 percent of the number of doctors in the country. Though the statistics do not say how many of the female doctors are surgeons, there are only a few in this field. But one thing is sure: female surgeons have proven themselves in this difficult field and won the admiration of the general public and the medical field. These women are able to enter the operation theaters, hold knives and scalpels and operate with confidence. Dr. Nawarah Al-Arfaj is an assistant professor of surgery at King Saud University and a plastic surgery consultant at the Burns Department of King Khalid University Hospital. She was the first female plastic surgeon and assistant professor surgery in the country. With a higher diploma from the University of Toronto, Canada, she has been a surgeon for 14 years. "I still vividly remember my first surgery right after I become a consultant. It was a breast reduction surgery and the patient was happy after the operation," said Al-Arfaj. "Some surgeries are really difficult, especially the ones that require swift intervention," she said, adding that a plastic surgeon's work is not limited to carrying out cosmetic surgery as some people believe. When she was a resident doctor, a patient was admitted to the emergency room one Ramadan and was in a critical condition. His wrists were slashed and he had lost a great deal of blood. Al-Arfaj said she immediately operated on him and was able to save his life at the last minute after hours of effort. Some 20 years ago, female doctors were viewed differently due to the prevalent conservative view in society at the time. Today, female doctors are viewed with great respect and admiration and are thanked for their sacrifices and strenuous efforts. "I am proud of the status of women in our society. Women have proven to be strong-willed and capable of rising to the occasion and overcoming obstacles," said Al-Afraj. About her success, Al-Afraj says she owes a lot to her family for their constant support from day one. "Family support is very important for the success of any female doctor, let alone a surgeon," she said. "Many women refrain from venturing into this field because they are not supported by their own families. It is sad that some of them quit although they show signs of a promising career in this field," she added. Al-Afraj hopes people change their perception of female surgeons over time and more families encourage their daughters to become surgeons. Dr. Rawan Al-Ahmadi is an otorhinolaryngology surgeon and is just finishing the third year of her residency program. She has performed countless minor surgeries and worked as first assistant surgeon in major operations such as removal of mouth masses. "The way society views female surgeons has completely changed and people are more accepting of women working as surgeons," she said, adding that she owes a lot to her family who supported her. "My family is my big supporter. They understand the nature of my work and my changing shifts. They understand when I do not show up for social events. Without them, I would not have been able to make my dreams come true," she said.
