Advancing Diversity in Ophthalmology: Analyzing a Single Institution’s Minority Pipeline Program

Abstract

Purpose : A diverse physician workforce accurately reflecting the patient population leads to decreased healthcare disparities, enhanced access to care, and improved patient outcomes. Ophthalmology remains one of the least diverse specialities. This prompted the creation of the Michigan Ophthalmology Pipeline (MOP) to offer underrepresented in medicine (URiM) first-year medical students mentorship, clinical exposure, and research opportunities. The MOP program aimed to boost URiM student interest in ophthalmology and enhance their competitiveness as applicants.

Methods : Each year, first-year medical students (M1) and residents (PGY2) were invited to apply to MOP. MOP mentees were matched one-to-one with an ophthalmology resident mentor whom they shadowed for six days in the clinic and the operating room. Additionally, medical students participated in educational and social events and received guidance and financial support to pursue research in ophthalmology. At the completion of the mentees’ M1 year, both students and residents were surveyed on their satisfaction with the program and changes in their skills and knowledge.

Results : 95.7% of mentees expressed satisfaction with the program. The initiative demonstrated educational value (4.04/5), increased ophthalmic knowledge (4.48/5), and fostered interest in ophthalmology (4.04/5). The 2019 cohort exhibited less interest in ophthalmology, scoring significantly lower than the 2017 cohort (p=0.0036) and the 2021 cohort (p=0.0208). 81.8% of residents would recommend the program to peers. 33.3% of M4 MOP mentees aim to or have matched into ophthalmology.

Conclusions : MOP successfully enhances URiM student interest and knowledge in ophthalmology, promoting diversity within the field. Changes in programming during the 2019 year may have influenced interest in ophthalmology compared to other cohort years. Six mentees in their third year of medical school intend to apply for ophthalmology residency programs. A longer-term assessment is needed to gauge MOP's impact on increasing diversity in ophthalmology.

This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.

 

Figure 1. Percentage of MOP mentees self-identifying as underrepresented in ophthalmology

 

Figure 2. Difference in the “Interest in Ophthalmology” subscore across MOP mentee cohorts