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

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.

Gender Authorship Trends in the Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Literature

“…Within oculoplastics, a growing number of women surgeons entering the field has narrowed what was once a considerable gap in representation. 5 A recent study examining ASOPRS found that general society membership among women rose from 3.8% to 45.2% between the first and fifth decades of the organization (1969–2018). 5 While these findings are encouraging, the authors also identified significant disparities among markers of late career advancement.…”

“…Within ASOPRS, the majority of fellowship program directors have historically been male. 5 This may explain in part why women first authors more frequently copublished articles with male senior authors than women senior authors.…”

“…3 Despite this progress, gender disparities persist in academic medicine with regard to research productivity and women representation in senior academic positions. 4,5 Prior studies have validated the use of authors’ gender in academic medical literature as an indicator of gender disparities within medical research. 6,7…”

An Analysis of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship Program Directors in the United States

“…An investigation of Canadian ophthalmologists noted that females were significantly more likely to pursue training in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, whereas males were more likely to pursue training in vitreoretinal surgery and OPRS [8]. Although Azad et al reported improved gender parity in ASOPRS membership since its founding, female representation among leadership positions remained limited [9]. Multiple investigations have demonstrated that same-sex mentors are crucial for the recruitment and retention of female faculty [10,11].…”

Female Cosmetic Surgeons: Past and Present Perspectives

“…15 A cosmetic subspecialty organization, the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), reported a 30.3% female surgeon membership as of 2018, which had increased from 8.0% in its founding years. 16 The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) 17 membership currently includes just 22.7% female surgeons.…”