Abstract
Purpose :
This study aims to evaluate gender disparities in leadership positions within US ophthalmology residency programs, focusing on chairpersons, residency program directors (PDs), and service directors.
Methods :
A comprehensive survey of institutional websites of ophthalmology residency programs was conducted from September to November 2023. Utilizing the San Francisco Match institutional profiles, PDs and chairpersons for each program were identified. Gender, academic background, and clinical experience data were systematically collected from publicly available sources, including institutional websites, Doximity profiles, and direct inquiries to each program. Additionally, research experience was assessed using the H-index obtained from the Scopus database.
Results :
In our analysis of 117 residency programs, we found that only 33.1% (n=179) of leadership positions, including department chair, residency PD, and service director, were held by women. This representation was significantly lower compared to the demographics of full-time ophthalmology faculty (p<0.001). The proportion of female PDs closely matched faculty demographics (52 [44.4%], p=0.6), while women were notably underrepresented in chair positions (19 [16.8%], p<0.001) and service director roles (108 [34.8%], p=0.02). Notably, uveitis divisions exhibited the highestpercentage of female leadership at 53.1%, while retina divisions had the lowest number of female directors at 16%. Furthermore, female chairpersons demonstrated fewer years in practice (median years [IQR]: male 31.5 [9.2], female 26 [11.5], p=0.04) compared to their male counterparts. Female service directors also exhibited fewer years in practice (median years [IQR]: male 27 [18], female 18.5 [14], p<0.001) and research experience, with a median h-index of 10 [13] compared to 19 [25] in males (p <0.001). However, no significant difference was observed among PDs, both in terms of clinical and research experience.
Conclusions :
This study reveals a notable underrepresentation of women in chair and service director roles within ophthalmology departments. The observed lower clinical experience among females may be attributed to the historical trend of women holding these positions less frequently and for shorter durations than their male counterparts. This underscores the critical need to identify and overcome barriers for meaningful progress in achieving gender balance in leadership roles.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.