Kai Zhu1, Priya Das2, Ahmer Karimuddin3, Sabeen Tiwana4, Javed Siddiqi5, Faisal Khosa6. 1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. 3. Department of Surgery, St Paul Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 4. Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 5. Arrowhead Neurosurgical Medical Group, Colton, California. 6. Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: fkhosa@hotmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the context of shifting population demographics in the United States, a diverse workforce in health care can lead to improved patient outcomes and enhance access to culturally competent care for minorities. The objective of this study was to analyze and quantify the relationship of gender, race, and academic rank, tenure status, and degree in American academic surgical faculty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 12-y retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the data from the Association of American Medical Colleges was performed. The distribution of race and gender across academic ranks, tenure, and degree types were recorded from 2007-2018. Simple descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis was used to analyze the time trends and association between gender and race across academic rank, tenure status, and degree types. RESULTS: When averaged over the 12 y of this study, there were significantly more whites (69.8%) and males (74.5%) among the academic surgery faculty compared with other races and females, respectively (P value <0.05). Asians and females experienced the greatest increase in proportional representation across all academic ranks with an absolute increase of 7% and 5% in full professor, 5% and 6% in associate professor, and 7% and 3% in chairperson (P value <0.05), respectively. No significant association was observed between gender and race with tenure status or degree type. CONCLUSIONS: Female and Asians are increasing in proportional representation; however, racial and gender disparities remain prevalent at higher academic ranks and positions of leadership, especially among black and Hispanic academic surgeons.
BACKGROUND: In the context of shifting population demographics in the United States, a diverse workforce in health care can lead to improved patient outcomes and enhance access to culturally competent care for minorities. The objective of this study was to analyze and quantify the relationship of gender, race, and academic rank, tenure status, and degree in American academic surgical faculty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 12-y retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the data from the Association of American Medical Colleges was performed. The distribution of race and gender across academic ranks, tenure, and degree types were recorded from 2007-2018. Simple descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis was used to analyze the time trends and association between gender and race across academic rank, tenure status, and degree types. RESULTS: When averaged over the 12 y of this study, there were significantly more whites (69.8%) and males (74.5%) among the academic surgery faculty compared with other races and females, respectively (P value <0.05). Asians and females experienced the greatest increase in proportional representation across all academic ranks with an absolute increase of 7% and 5% in full professor, 5% and 6% in associate professor, and 7% and 3% in chairperson (P value <0.05), respectively. No significant association was observed between gender and race with tenure status or degree type. CONCLUSIONS: Female and Asians are increasing in proportional representation; however, racial and gender disparities remain prevalent at higher academic ranks and positions of leadership, especially among black and Hispanic academic surgeons.
Authors: Chaitanya Shah; Muhammad H Tiwana; Shilpa Chatterjee; Mehr Jain; Ola Lemanowicz; Sabeen Tiwana; Saleh Fares; Javed Siddiqi; Ahmed B Alwazzan; Faisal Khosa Journal: Cureus Date: 2022-04-12