Gad Dotan1, Hanya M Qureshi2, Dan D Gaton3. 1. Ophthalmology Clinic, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikvah, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: gaddotan@hotmail.com. 2. Columbia College, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, New York, USA. 3. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To characterize and analyze the profile of United States (US) academic ophthalmology department chairs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Setting: Web search of publicly accessible sources. STUDY POPULATION: One hundred and eleven US ophthalmology chairs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic and academic data. RESULTS: Of the 111 chairs reviewed, 90% are male. Mean age of chairs is 59 years, and mean age at time of appointment is 47 years. Ninety-two percent of chairs graduated from an American medical school. Twenty-eight percent of chairs also have additional graduate degrees: 8% a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, 15% a master's degree, and 5% both. Ninety-five percent of chairs completed a clinical fellowship, most frequently in cornea (25%), vitreoretinal surgery (23%), and glaucoma (21%). The 3 programs that trained the largest number of chairs are Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Wilmer Eye Institute, and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Thirty-two percent of chairs were previously trained in the program they currently head, more commonly as a resident (28%) than as a fellow (5%). The estimated mean number of publications per chair is 108 (range, 0-850) and the mean h-index is 24. Twenty-seven programs exchanged chairs from 2014 to 2017. The characteristics of appointed chairs are no different than those of recently retired chairs. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmology chairs remain predominately male, most often specializing in cornea, vitreoretinal surgery, or glaucoma. Most chairs tend to be prolific authors whose careers have placed an emphasis on research; however, a lack of demonstrated research experience does not preclude chairmanship in certain US programs.
PURPOSE: To characterize and analyze the profile of United States (US) academic ophthalmology department chairs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Setting: Web search of publicly accessible sources. STUDY POPULATION: One hundred and eleven US ophthalmology chairs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic and academic data. RESULTS: Of the 111 chairs reviewed, 90% are male. Mean age of chairs is 59 years, and mean age at time of appointment is 47 years. Ninety-two percent of chairs graduated from an American medical school. Twenty-eight percent of chairs also have additional graduate degrees: 8% a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, 15% a master's degree, and 5% both. Ninety-five percent of chairs completed a clinical fellowship, most frequently in cornea (25%), vitreoretinal surgery (23%), and glaucoma (21%). The 3 programs that trained the largest number of chairs are Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Wilmer Eye Institute, and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Thirty-two percent of chairs were previously trained in the program they currently head, more commonly as a resident (28%) than as a fellow (5%). The estimated mean number of publications per chair is 108 (range, 0-850) and the mean h-index is 24. Twenty-seven programs exchanged chairs from 2014 to 2017. The characteristics of appointed chairs are no different than those of recently retired chairs. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmology chairs remain predominately male, most often specializing in cornea, vitreoretinal surgery, or glaucoma. Most chairs tend to be prolific authors whose careers have placed an emphasis on research; however, a lack of demonstrated research experience does not preclude chairmanship in certain US programs.
Authors: Mona L Camacci; Amy Lu; Erik B Lehman; Ingrid U Scott; Esther Bowie; Seth M Pantanelli Journal: JAMA Ophthalmol Date: 2020-05-01 Impact factor: 7.389
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