Why do some surgeons refer to themselves as Mr rather than Dr?

Debate on the age-old question recently surfaced once more after a hospital in Adelaide announced it was “phasing out gendered titles for surgeons” to help promote gender equality in the workplace.

Under the reforms, the Women’s and Children’s Hospital plans to use the Dr honorific in all emails and paperwork relating to surgeons.

Dr Michael Ee, a paediatric surgeon, is one of the public faces of the hospital’s campaign.