Gender, Race and Ethnicity Among US Academic Ophthalmologists and Department Chairs: A Half-Century Analysis Between 1966-2021

Theme: Equity, diversity and inclusion
What: Equity, diversity and inclusion
Part of: EDI Symposium II: EDI in Action / de diversité, d’équité et d’inclusion II : L’EDI en action
When: 5/31/2024, 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Where: Room | Salle 716 B

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze gender, race, and ethnicity trends in rank and leadership amongst American academic ophthalmologists.

Study Design: Retrospective study of ophthalmologists with full-time faculty appointments and department chairs between 1966-2021 in the United States (US).

Methods: Gender, race, and ethnicity data were acquired from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Where appropriate, multivariable linear regression and multiple comparison tests (pairwise t-test, analysis of variation, and Tukey honestly significant difference test) were conducted, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). The primary outcome was the annual rate of change in both the proportion of women, racialized, and ethnic academic faculty between 1966-2021 and in academic rank. Secondary outcomes were annual rate of change by these same variables in chair status.

Results: There were 221 academic physicians in 1966 (12.2% women; 18.3% racialized; 3.2% Hispanic/Latino/Spanish) and 3158 individuals by 2021 (41.8% women; 39.67% racialized; 2.3% Hispanic/Latino/Spanish ethnicity). The proportion change per year for women, racialized, and sole Hispanic/Latino/Spanish ethnicity was +0.63%/year [95%CI: 0.53,0.72], +0.54%/year [95%CI 0.72,0.36], and -0.011% [95%CI -0.03,0.004], respectively. Over this period, men significantly outnumbered women (period-averaged mean difference (PA-MD) 56.2% [95%CI 21.9,78.1]. Women were significantly underrepresented across academic ranks, and increasingly so at higher echelons, ranging from non-professor/instructor roles (PA-MD 19.8% [95CI 40.1%,59.9]) to professor (PA-MD 81.3% [95%CI 78.8,83.6]). Racialized participants were significantly less likely to hold a given academic rank than non-racialized individuals. The corpus of department chairs grew from 77 in 1977 (0% women; 9.1% racialized; 2.6% Hispanic/Latino/Spanish ethnicity) to 104 by 2021 (16.3% women; 21.2% racialized; 3.8% Hispanic/Latino/Spanish ethnicity). For department chairs, the annual rate of change in the proportion of women, racialized, and Hispanic/Latino/Spanish ethnicity were +0.32%/year [95%CI: 0.20,0.44], +0.34%/year [95%CI 0.19,0.49], and +0.05% [95%CI 0.02,0.08], respectively. For full-time academic faculty and department chairs, White men predominated representation while women and underrepresented in medicine groups (Black, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) grew the least among marginalized groups.

Conclusions: Since 1966, diversity among US ophthalmologists has progressed slowly and is limited to lower academic ranks and leadership positions. Further targeted advocacy is recommended.

Presenter(s)

Presenting Author: Brendan Tao

Additional Author(s):

Jeffery Ding, University of British Columbia

Edsel Ing, University of Alberta and University of Toronto

Radha Kohly, University of Toronto

Robert Langan, University of Geneva

Nawaaz Nathoo, University of British Columbia

Guillermo Rocha, McGill University

Enitan Sogbesan, McMaster University

Salina Teja, University of British Columbia

Javed Siddiqi, California University of Science and Medicine

Faisal Khosa, University of British Columbia

---