H-1B Sponsorship of Surgeons Rises - Summary - MDSpire

H-1B Sponsorship of Surgeons Rises

Analysis suggests visa-sponsored surgeons are more concentrated in rural and high-poverty counties

  • By

  • Jess Allerton

  • March 25, 2026

  • 3 min

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Objective:

To analyze the trends and geographic distribution of surgeons sponsored for H-1B visas in the US over the past decade.

Key Findings:
  • The number of surgeons sponsored for H-1B visas increased by an average of 33 each year, reaching 662 in fiscal year 2024.
  • Sponsored surgeons represented less than 1% of the total US surgical workforce in 2024.
  • Higher shares of H-1B-sponsored surgeons were found in counties with high poverty levels and rural areas.
  • No significant differences were found in the share of H-1B-sponsored surgeons between counties with high proportions of Black and Hispanic residents and other counties.
Interpretation:

H-1B-sponsored surgeons are crucial for maintaining surgical care access in underserved communities, but rising application costs may exacerbate workforce shortages.

Limitations:
  • The study used application data rather than confirmed employment records, potentially overestimating the number of surgeons entering the US workforce.
  • The analysis could not differentiate between surgical subspecialties.
Conclusion:

Visa-sponsored surgeons may significantly contribute to surgical care in rural and high-poverty areas, and increased application fees could impact workforce distribution.

Original Source(s)

H-1B Sponsorship of Surgeons Rises

  • by Jess Allerton

  • March 25, 2026

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