An Evaluation of Race Disparities in Academic Plastic Surgery

Abstract

Background: Academic plastic surgery has a history of underrepresentation of ethnic and racial minority groups. Recent policy shifts by national medical groups and plastic surgery societies have focused on reversing these inequalities. This study seeks to measure ethnic and racial representation at academic and leadership positions following recent changes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in June of 2018, measuring ethnic and racial diversity of U.S. academic plastic surgery faculty. Among faculty, career qualifications, years of experience, faculty positions, and leadership ethnicity were compared. Results: A total of 930 academic plastic surgeons were included in the study. Classified collectively as nonwhite, this group graduated more recently than other academic plastic surgeons (2006 versus 2001; p < 0.0001) and had greater rates of clinical fellowship attainment (OR, 1.62; 95 percent CI, 1.16 to 2.26). Nonwhite individuals were less likely to be employed in the full professor position compared with their white colleagues (OR, 0.6; 95 percent CI, 0.42 to 0.88; p = 0.0077). However, after adjustment for differences in years of postresidency experience, this disparity was no longer significant (OR, 1.06; 95 percent CI, 0.62 to 1.83; p = 0.82), indicating the importance of current cohort experience differences. Assessment of program leadership found that nonwhite chairs employed significantly more nonwhite faculty (42.5 percent versus 20.9 percent; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Academic plastic surgery continues to face disparities in representation of both ethnic and racial minorities. Current inequalities are most severe at senior academic positions and may be linked to cohort experience differences along with leadership and promotion biases.

Gender imbalance amongst promotion and leadership in academic surgical programs in Canada: A cross-sectional Investigation

“…This study joins others among surgical subspecialties in highlighting ongoing gender disparity with regards to women surgeons within academia [ 32 – 37 , 40 , 41 , 43 – 48 , 51 , 52 , 54 – 58 , 64 ]. While our investigation highlights the current Canadian environment, the themes of ongoing gender disparity are not isolated to this country; with specific studies noting that inequities exist in Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery and General surgery across North America, the EU and Oceania [ 39 , 45 , 46 , 65 , 66 ].…”

Characteristics and Academic Productivity Among Pediatric Plastic Surgeons in the United States

“…Females in chair and senior positions have not grown significantly, but hopefully we will see an increase as the current group of junior faculty gains enough experience to be promoted. We do, however, acknowledge that at the full professor level, there are still inequalities despite the increased experience, and leadership gender determines institutional diversity with regard to female representation (Smith et al, 2019). Regarding race representation in plastic surgery, a 2009 study established that the amount of Asian, Hispanic, and black plastic surgeons combined are still in the minority compared to the amount of white plastic academicians and tenured full professors in plastic surgery (Butler et al, 2009).…”

The Matilda Effect: Underrecognition of Women in Hematology and Oncology Awards

“…While there may be a component of low representation in the medical workforce at large, the reason is likely multifactorial. Lack of representation of URM in leadership roles despite similar qualifying factors has been demonstrated in a variety of specialties [27][28][29][30]. Leadership roles contribute to visibility and opportunities, which, in turn, can help with career advancement and recognition.…”