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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Academic Ophthalmology 2023; 15(01): e24-e35
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1760834
Research Article

Race and Gender in Ophthalmology: A National Analysis of Medical Students with Intention to Pursue the Field

John Chhoa
1   Albany Medical College, Albany, New York
,
John Jawiche
1   Albany Medical College, Albany, New York
,
Priya A. Uppal
1   Albany Medical College, Albany, New York
,
Thilaka Arunachalam
1   Albany Medical College, Albany, New York
,
Mytien Nguyen
2   Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
,
Branden Eggan
3   Department of Nursing, Siena College, Loudonville, New York
,
Hyacinth Mason
4   Office of Student Affairs, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Jacqueline Busingye
5   Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York
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Abstract

Purpose The field of ophthalmology must become more reflective of the increasingly diverse U.S. population. This study characterizes students intending to pursue ophthalmology and practice in an underserved area versus other surgical and nonsurgical fields.

Subjects Deidentified responses from 92,080 U.S. MD students who matriculated in the academic years beginning from 2007 to 2011 were obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Graduation Questionnaires.

Methods Study participants were those who fully completed the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire. Chi-squared and multivariate logistical regressions were used for analyses.

Results Ophthalmology intending graduates (OIG; n = 1,177) compared with other surgical intending graduates (n = 7,955) were more likely to be female (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28–1.66), Asian (1.71 [1.46–2.01]), and have conducted a research project with a faculty member (1.58 [1.26–1.98]). OIG compared with nonsurgery intending graduates (n = 35,865) were more likely to have completed a research project with a faculty member (4.78 [3.86–5.92]), to be Asian (1.4 [1.21–1.62]), and have received scholarships (1.18 [1.04–1.34]). OIG were less likely to be female (0.64 [0.57–0.73]) and Black/African American (0.5 [0.33–0.74]). Among OIG, Black/African American students and multiracial students were more likely than non-Hispanic (NH) White students to report intention to practice in underserved areas (IPUA; 14.29 [1.82–111.88] and 2.5 [1.06–5.92]), respectively. OIG with global health experience were more likely to report IPUA (1.64 [1.2–2.25]).

Conclusion Females and underrepresented in medicine (URM), respectively, were more likely to be nonsurgery intending graduates than OIG, which, if not addressed, may lead to a persistent underrepresentation of these groups in the field. In addition, URM students, including African American students, were more likely to report IPUA, which further emphasizes the importance of more URM students entering the field to address these growing gaps in medical care. Finally, we recommend increased mentorship to help address these disparities.

Keywords

diversity - underrepresented minorities - medically underserved areas


Publication History

Received: 20 June 2022

Accepted: 21 November 2022

Article published online:
28 January 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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