Quantifying the Pipeline of Ethnically Underrepresented in Medicine Physicians in Academic Plastic Surgery Leadership

Abstract

Background The lack of underrepresented in medicine (UIM) physicians in academic plastic surgery is emerging as a critical issue. Lack of diversity has a negative effect on patient care and on the culture of our health care system. This study reports the current status of ethnically UIM physicians in the plastic surgery pipeline, starting from the medical student level and progressing to national leadership positions. Methods The Electronic Residency Applications Service, National Resident Matching Program, Association of American Medical Colleges, and professional Web sites for journals and national societies were accessed for racial demographic information from 2008 to 2019. Results Over the past decade, there has been no change or a slight decrease in representation of Blacks among plastic surgery residency applicants, trainees, and academic faculty, at half or less than expected, compared with US Census data. The first point of drop-off occurs at the resident (3.8% of integrated and 5.6% of independent residents) to faculty level (<2.8%). Two percent of program directors and department heads/division chiefs are Black. The next point of drop-off occurs at the national level: there has never been a Black president of American Society of Plastic Surgeons or Plastic Surgery Foundation, and there are no Black editors-in-chiefs of major plastic surgery journals. Following LatinX American surgeons down the pipeline over the past decade, there has been no change or a decrease in representation among plastic surgery residency applicants, resident physicians, and academic faculty, at one-third or less than expected, compared with US Census data. The first point of drop-off occurs at the faculty (4.8%) to local leadership level (0% of program directors and department heads/division chiefs) where there is no representation of LatinX. Once this drop-off occurs, there is no recovery at the national leadership level. Conclusions In order for our profession to reflect our nation's demographics, academic plastic surgery is in need of a paradigm shift now. Attrition of UIM physicians in plastic surgery begins at medical school graduation and persists through surgical training, faculty appointments, and attainment of leadership positions. Creative and innovative commitment to diversity and inclusion is necessary.

Closing the Gap: Training Experiences and Career Outcomes for Underrepresented Minorities in Plastic Surgery

“…5 For African Americans, the resident-to-faculty transition is the primary point of attrition, with nearly half lost; however, the need for increased recruitment and retention of UIM physicians has not gone unnoticed. 6 Ongoing efforts to tackle this problem are in place at the institutional 7 and national level, including the American Association of Plastic Surgeons' creation of the Diversity Task Force. 8 Although it is too soon to measure the impact of such initiatives, we can potentially guide these approaches by analyzing current UIM physicians in the field.…”

The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on the 2022 Plastic Surgery Match

“…13,16,17 In particular, the transition from PRS applicant to resident is a significant point of attrition among women and those racial/ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in medicine (URiM) (Table, Supplementary Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/ SAP/A808). 13,16 These disparities have raised concerns regarding inequities in metrics used to assess applicants and professional development resources available to students. Reliance on traditional metrics including USMLE examination scores, acceptance to medical honor societies, and clerkship evaluations have been shown to disadvantage minority students.…”

Scholarships Targeting Diversity and Inclusion: A Student’s Experience at Plastic Surgery the Meeting 2021

“…2 Although the aforementioned groups comprise more than 40% of the US population, UIM surgeons comprise just 8.6% of academic plastic surgery faculty, combined. 3 Of heightened concern is that UIM representation has been near stagnant over the last decade, with no appreciable progress made. 3 These alarming statistics combined with increasing match competitiveness leaves UIM students with disproportionately staggering odds of entering the field.…”

“…3 Of heightened concern is that UIM representation has been near stagnant over the last decade, with no appreciable progress made. 3 These alarming statistics combined with increasing match competitiveness leaves UIM students with disproportionately staggering odds of entering the field.…”