Abstract
Purpose :
To assess demographic qualities, institutional backgrounds, and academic achievements of program directors in Cornea and External Disease, Refractive Surgery, and Anterior Segment fellowships.
Methods :
Program directors of Cornea and External Disease, Refractive Surgery, and Anterior Segment fellowships were identified on the San Francisco Match website. Demographic characteristics, educational and training background, and academic productivity were analyzed using the director’s institutional profile, PubMed, and Scopus database. Board certification was confirmed using the American Board of Ophthalmology website. Membership in journal editorial board, Cornea Society board, or Heed fellowship was based on the respective websites. Other fellowship qualities reviewed included academic or private practice type, number of cornea faculty, and sex of chairperson.
Results :
We reviewed 47 Cornea and External Disease, 29 Refractive Surgery, and 10 Anterior Segment fellowships. Of reviewed programs, 64.0% were considered academic, 34.9% were private practice, and 1.2% were both. Overall, 23.9% of program directors were women and the mean age was 52.6±2.5 years old. More female program directors were in departments with a female chairperson compared to male program directors (6±28.6% vs. 4±6.0%, p=0.011). Of program directors, 20.5% were Heed Fellows, and the average number of publications was 44.6±11.8. Mean H-index was 16.5±3.3 and was higher in Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery than Anterior Segment fellowships (18.2±15.5 vs. 7.1±11.4, p=0.008). Mean H-index was higher in academic than private practice fellowships (19.9±15.1 vs. 11.2±14.7, p=0.011). Of all program directors, 1.1% were Instructors, 14.8% were Assistant Professors, 25.0% were Associate Professors, 34.1% were Full Professors, 18.2% were Endowed Chairs, 12.5% were on the Editorial Boards of the 3 highest impact journals in ophthalmology and cornea, and 6.8% were Cornea Society Board Members.
Conclusions :
The majority of fellowships are academic programs led by program directors with a high number of publications, H-index, and level of professorship. Cornea and External Disease and Refractive Surgery fellowship directors had a higher academic productivity than those in Anterior Segment programs. Female program directors remain the minority and are more common in departments with female chairpersons, demonstrating an opportunity for further representation.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.