A chief of surgery (also called head surgeon or chief surgeon) is an attending surgeon in a senior management position at a hospital or other medical institution. In many institutions, it is the title of the most senior surgeon, but it may also be used as the title of the most senior surgeon of a particular department within a larger institution. A chief surgeon generally is in charge of surgical matters and often is the superior of other surgeons (including consultants or attending surgeons), but may also be in charge of other professional groups and areas of responsibility.