A December 2006 study from the University of Barcelona found that surgeons are the most handsome among male doctors, but they’re still no match for actors who play doctors on TV.
The tongue-in-cheek study was inspired by doctors at the University of Barcelona who recalled that their best looking classmates from medical school tended to become surgeons. Two dozen medical professionals at the University of Barcelona Hospital Clinic volunteered their photos and basic measurements for comparison. The jury? Eight women in the medical profession. The women rated the photos of the twenty-four doctors on a scale from one (ugly) to seven (very good looking).
On average, the surgeons in the pool were older, taller, and better looking! They got a rating of 4.4 from the judges. The other doctors were nearly a point less good looking than the surgeon counterparts. The non-surgeons were also an average of three inches shorter and one year younger than the good looking surgeons.
The researchers also include pictures of famous doctors from television and movies. Harrison Ford (who played a surgeon in The Fugitive), George Clooney from his ER days, Patrick Dempsey from Grey’s Anatomy, and Hugh Laurie from House averaged six out of seven points. Actors who play surgeons are apparently much better looking than actual surgeons.
For the record, most of the twenty-four doctors in the survey reported that they were pleased with their career choices AND their looks. The University of Barcelona study didn’t include any handsome young interns or residents, only doctors. (Noah Wylie, anyone? He’ll always be my favorite handsome young intern.)
If I had to choose, sure… I’d much rather have George Clooney or Patrick Dempsey escort me into the operating room. But I’ll settle for my slightly above average looking surgeon instead of a very good looking actor. If I must!