Ophthalmology Faculty Diversity Trends in the US

Abstract

Importance: Enhancing the diversity of ophthalmologists can potentially contribute to diminishing disparities in eye care.

Objectives: To investigate longitudinal trends in the representation of individuals underrepresented in medicine (URiM) and women among ophthalmology faculty compared with other specialties and to assess disparities between ophthalmology faculty demographic characteristics and the US population.

Design, setting, and participants: In this cross-sectional study, a comprehensive analysis of Association of American Medical Colleges Faculty Roster data between 2000 and 2021 was conducted, using data from the US Medical School Faculty report on 56 438 ophthalmology faculty members.

Main outcomes and measures: The data set was used to differentiate ophthalmology faculty members by gender, rank, and designation as a URiM individual. Outcome measures included changes in URiM and non-URiM faculty proportions, faculty rank, gender, department chair positions, and the US population between 2000 and 2021.

Results: A total of 56 438 ophthalmology faculty members (37 511 men [66.5%]) were included in the study. The number of ophthalmology faculty increased from 1820 in 2000 to 3151 in 2021. Across all years, URiM female faculty represented 3.1% of ophthalmologists (1733 of 56 438), while URiM men accounted for 3.5% (1983 of 56 438). Overall, non-URiM men constituted 63.0% of ophthalmologists (35 528 of 56 438), and non-URiM women accounted for 30.5% (17 194 of 56 438). The proportion of URiM male faculty remained stable from 2000 to 2021 (63 of 1820 [3.5%] vs 104 of 3151 [3.3%]), with a small increase in URiM women faculty at junior faculty positions (2000, 40 of 1820 [2.2%]; 2021, 129 of 3151 [4.1%]; difference, 1.9% [95% CI, 0.9%-2.9%]). Proportions of non-URiM men decreased from 71.2% (1295 of 1820) in 2000 to 55.3% (1743 of 3151) in 2021 (difference, 15.8% [95% CI, 13.1%-18.6%]) and proportions of non-URiM women increased from 23.2% (422 of 1820) in 2000 to 37.3% (1175 of 3151) in 2021 (difference, 14.1% [95% CI, 11.5%-16.7%]). In terms of faculty rank, there were increases in representation of women from 2000 to 2021 at assistant professor (from 11.2% [203 of 1819] to 19.7% [622 of 3165]; difference, 8.5% [95% CI, 6.5%-10.5%]), associate professor (from 4.6% [83 of 1819] to 8.6% [271 of 3165]; difference, 4.0% [95% CI, 2.6%-5.4%]), and professor levels (from 2.8% [51 of 1819] to 7.1% [223 of 3165]; difference, 4.3% [95% CI, 3.9%-6.1%]). URiM representation remained stable at most ranks. Compared with other specialties, ophthalmology had among the lowest percentage change in URiM faculty. The expansion of ophthalmology's URiM faculty representation was less than one-third that of the diverse US population.

Conclusion and relevance: These findings highlight substantial growth in ophthalmology faculty and an increase in women's representation across several faculty ranks. However, URiM representation has remained largely unchanged, despite an increase at the associate professor level. This finding emphasizes the need for continued efforts to enhance diversity in academic ophthalmology.

Figure 1.. Number and Proportion of Ophthalmology Department Faculty Members by Gender and Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Status, 2000-2021

A, Comprehensive count of faculty members in the field of ophthalmology in the US, spanning the years 2000 to 2021. B, Distribution of ophthalmic department faculty members, categorized by their URiM status and gender. P < .05 indicates a statistical significance from Cochran-Armitage tests.

Figure 2.. Trends in the Representation of Female and Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Faculty Members in the Ophthalmology Department by Academic Rank and the Proportion of URiM Ophthalmic Department Chairs, 2000-2021

A, Representation of URiM ophthalmology faculty members by academic ranks. B, Proportion of women faculty members in the ophthalmology department by different academic ranks. C, Breakdown of the proportion of ophthalmic department chairs by their URiM status and gender. P < .05 indicates a statistical significance from Cochran-Armitage tests.

Figure 3.. Change in Proportion of Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) and Female Faculty Members in Clinical Departments, 2000-2022

A, Change in the proportion of URiM faculty members across clinical departments from 2000 to 2022. B, Change in the proportion of female faculty members across clinical departments. The data include all the departments listed by the Association of American Medical Colleges Faculty Roster.

Figure 4.. Comparative Increase in Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Faculty Members vs US Population Minority Groups, 2000-2021

A, Percentage increase in URiM faculty members and minority groups in the US population from 2000 to 2021. B, Percentage change between URiM faculty and minority population across years.