Kamolphob Phasuk1, Sreenivas Koka2, Mathew T Kattadiyil3, Murat Mutluay4. 1. Director, Predoctoral Implant Prosthodontics and Clinical Assistant Professor, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Ind. 2. Clinical Professor, Advanced Prosthodontics, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, Loma Linda, Calif; Private practice, Koka Dental Clinic, San Diego, Calif; Lecturer, Advanced Prosthodontics, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, Calif; CEO, Career Design in Dentistry, San Diego, Calif. Electronic address: skoka66@gmail.com. 3. Professor and Director, Advanced Specialty Education in Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif. 4. Clinical Professor and Chair in Prosthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Chief Dentist, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Senior Researcher, Adhesive Dentistry Research Group, Department of Restorative Dentistry and Cariology, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Abstract
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: As a measure of the leadership diversity in prosthodontics, the number and percentage of women and nonwhite Presidents of prosthodontics organizations is unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this observational study was to calculate and compare the number and percentage of women and nonwhite Presidents of 10 selected prosthodontic organizations over the past 20 years and to determine whether the number of women and nonwhite Presidents has changed over the time frame of 2000-2019 in comparison to male and white Presidents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The number of women and nonwhite Presidents of the Academy of Prosthodontics (AP), American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics (AAFP), American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics (AAMP), American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), American Prosthodontic Society (APS), European Prosthodontic Association (EPA), International Association of Dental Research - Prosthodontics group (IADR-P), International College of Prosthodontists (ICP), Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics (GNYAP), and Pacific Coast Society for Prosthodontics (PCSP) was recorded. The chi-square test was used to determine differences in the percentage of women and nonwhite Presidents over time and between organizations. RESULTS: The range of women Presidents in the selected years was 20% (EPA) to 0% (APS) with a mean of 10%. No statistically significant differences over time and between organizations were observed. The range of nonwhite Presidents in the selected years was 25% (ICP) to 0% (AAFP, AAMP, ACP, and GNYAP) with a mean of 7.5%. No statistically significant difference over time was observed while a statistically significant difference between organizations was observed (P=.015). Multiple comparisons revealed the ICP had significantly more nonwhite Presidents in the selected years. CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low numbers of women and nonwhite Presidents in the organizations studied is compelling evidence that there are an insufficient number of women and nonwhite role models in prosthodontics and that important voices representing the diversity of members of the prosthodontic community remain unheard.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: As a measure of the leadership diversity in prosthodontics, the number and percentage of women and nonwhite Presidents of prosthodontics organizations is unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this observational study was to calculate and compare the number and percentage of women and nonwhite Presidents of 10 selected prosthodontic organizations over the past 20 years and to determine whether the number of women and nonwhite Presidents has changed over the time frame of 2000-2019 in comparison to male and white Presidents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The number of women and nonwhite Presidents of the Academy of Prosthodontics (AP), American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics (AAFP), American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics (AAMP), American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), American Prosthodontic Society (APS), European Prosthodontic Association (EPA), International Association of Dental Research - Prosthodontics group (IADR-P), International College of Prosthodontists (ICP), Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics (GNYAP), and Pacific Coast Society for Prosthodontics (PCSP) was recorded. The chi-square test was used to determine differences in the percentage of women and nonwhite Presidents over time and between organizations. RESULTS: The range of women Presidents in the selected years was 20% (EPA) to 0% (APS) with a mean of 10%. No statistically significant differences over time and between organizations were observed. The range of nonwhite Presidents in the selected years was 25% (ICP) to 0% (AAFP, AAMP, ACP, and GNYAP) with a mean of 7.5%. No statistically significant difference over time was observed while a statistically significant difference between organizations was observed (P=.015). Multiple comparisons revealed the ICP had significantly more nonwhite Presidents in the selected years. CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low numbers of women and nonwhite Presidents in the organizations studied is compelling evidence that there are an insufficient number of women and nonwhite role models in prosthodontics and that important voices representing the diversity of members of the prosthodontic community remain unheard.