What is the current state of gender and ethnic diversity among academic facial plastic surgeons as measured by demographics, time in practice, academic productivity, and faculty position?
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August 2023Increased diversity is needed in academic facial plastic surgery, particularly female, Hispanic, and Black representation.
BACKGROUND: Poor diversity among healthcare workers contributes to persistent healthcare disparities for patients. Minority and female representations in academic medicine have historically been lacking, especially in surgical subspecialties like otolaryngology, where there is a low representation of minorities.
STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study
SETTING: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Oakland, Calif.
SYNOPSIS: Researchers mined multiple sources to identify facial plastic surgery faculty in U.S. otolaryngology residencies with a title of assistant professor, associate professor, or professor. After exclusions, a total of 168 surgeons were identified at 90 institutions across 41 states/territories. Females comprised 25.6% of identified surgeons. Most surgeons were White (69.9%), followed by Asian (25%), Hispanic (3.6%), and Black (1.8%). White males were the most common demographic group (54.1%). Thirty-two institutions (35.6%) had no ethnic or gender minority facial plastic and reconstructive surgery (FPRS) faculty. On average, male surgeons were in practice longer than female surgeons (14.2 vs. 8.0 years). Female representation was greater among early career surgeons (41%) than mid- or late-career surgeons (24% and 13%, respectively). The study found no racial or gender difference in advancement past assistant professorship after five years. Data from this cross-sectional study were unable to derive cause/effect relationships.
CITATION: Chou DW, Layfield E, Prasad K, et al. Gender and ethnic diversity in academic facial plastic surgery. Laryngoscope. 2023;133:1869–1874.