Australia's surgical research: From the laboratory to health systems

While representing less than 5% (6513 out of 138 127) of the registered Australian medical practitioners (https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/news/statistics.aspx), surgeons are involved in the care of 2.8 million (out of approximately 11.6 million) hospitalisations yearly (https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports‐data/myhospitals/intersection/activity/apc). Surgeons and surgical care teams are intimately involved in how our health care system operates, from what type of care we receive, to how the public and private sectors interact (or are at odds at times) (doi: 10.5694/mja2.51844). Additionally, they are often at the forefront of innovations. Their cautiously optimistic approach to the introduction of new devices, techniques, and of late, artificial technology enabled tools, is important to ensure safety in care.