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. 2021 May-Jun;37(3):236-240.
doi: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000001764.

Progress Towards Parity: Female Representation in the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Amee D Azad  1 , Tatiana R Rosenblatt  1 , Arthika Chandramohan  1 , Tamara R Fountain  2 , Andrea L Kossler  1
Affiliations

Progress Towards Parity: Female Representation in the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Amee D Azad et al. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2021 May-Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: To report female representation within the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) at all levels of career achievement over 50 years.

Methods: Data were extrapolated from published ASOPRS directories and the 50th anniversary booklet. Fellowship, membership, leadership, and awards data were evaluated over 5 decades. Comparisons were made between the first and second 25 years, proportions of early and late career achievements, and time to career progression between males and females.

Results: During the first decade, 5.6% of ASOPRS fellows were female (n = 2), which rose to 6.6% (n = 8), 17.6% (n = 32), 22.4% (n = 35), and 39.4% (n = 97) in the second, third, fourth, and fifth decades, respectively. These patterns were echoed in ASOPRS membership. When comparing the first half (1969-1994) to the second half (1995-2018), fellowship (10.5% vs. 30.0%, p < 0.001), membership (8.0% vs. 30.3%, p < 0.001), early career awards (5.6% vs. 28.9%, p = 0.047), program directorship (0.0% vs. 15.7%, p = 0.017), and executive committee female representation (4.5% vs. 16.8%, p < 0.001) increased significantly. However, females were proportionally underrepresented as program directors (p = 0.003), late career award winners (p = 0.001), executive committee members (p < 0.001), and presidents (p = 0.020). Among those reaching leadership positions, females took longer than males to become program directors by a median of 4 years (p = 0.025).

Conclusions: There has been a steady increase in female representation in ASOPRS fellowship training and membership. While significant progress has been made, growth in female leadership and award recognition is still needed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial or conflicts of interest to disclose.

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