Gender, Race, and Ethnicity of US Academic Ophthalmology Faculty and Department Chairs From 1966 to 2021

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2820697?guestAccessKey=49c936c7-449b-4c9d-ba1b-7e8af99980c7&utm_term=071124&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_medium=referral&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--UiH5bbWiCYXIRB2k2HEpUU-BExo_QnOINcgT4E5MNEHZnNTDOWXvbJCXzCobZsyyCgo8uUoa5Plis4OANX57DNQIeSw&_hsmi=315419969&utm_content=tfl&utm_source=for_the_media Ophthalmology has a diversity problem The field of academic ophthalmology has seen little increase in diversity in the past 55 years, according to an analysis published Thursday in JAMA Ophthalmology. The study found that while the number of positions in the field have exploded from 221 in 1966 to more than 3,000 today, diversity within the field has stalled, with leadership positions in the field such as department chair occupied predominantly by white males. The analysis found that Black and Hispanic physicians held no more than 5% of any academic positions, and that the number of positions held by physicians who are American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander was nearly zero. The authors “caution against affirmative actions bans,” which they say are likely to exacerbate the current underrepresentation of many groups. An accompanying editorial called on the field — with a lack of diversity rivaled only by orthopedic surgery and radiology — to increase diversity through more research and mentoring programs that have proven successful in supporting students from underrepresented groups to enter elite medical specialties. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2820698?guestAccessKey=7e761f68-f799-404e-8640-10978d89b28e&utm_term=071124&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_medium=referral&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--wujVqM7PQnlLKDyzlrLicDX1cNlheNzKdZ67RN3rwR7nma9RSWHSA_C3dUN2NSYsDfntcHR49ShXmQ-IBQlslGR4o-Q&_hsmi=315419969&utm_content=tfl&utm_source=for_the_media