Changes in Leadership: A 20-Year Study of Trends in Tenure of Chairs of Departments of Ophthalmology

Abstract

Abstract Objective This article assesses recent trends in tenure length for chairs of academic departments of ophthalmology. Materials and Methods This is a cross-sectional study of current chairs from 136 institutions. Questionnaires emailed to ophthalmology chairs assessed duration of tenure and demographics of current and previous chairs. Based off of this data, trends in tenure length, turnover rates, and retention rates were determined. Results From 1998 to 2018, 255 individuals held the position of chair at 95 academic departments of ophthalmology. Mean tenure length was 17.8 years for chairs whose tenure included 2005, and decreased to 15.2 and 10.4 years for chairs whose tenures included 2010 and 2015, respectively. Mean annual turnover began at 5.3% in the first 5 years of the study, increasing to 6.5% in the following 5 years before returning to a baseline of 5.3% in the past 5 years. An average turnover of 5.2% was demonstrated during the entire study period. Five-year retention rates for new chairs averaged at 86.2%. Representation of female chairs rose from values of 2.1 and 3.1% in the beginning of the period to 7.3 and 8.4% in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Conclusions The average turnover rate for chairs of ophthalmology has remained stable over the past 20 years, with an observed slight decrease in mean tenure length. This stability is welcomed in the wake of predicted turnover within the field of ophthalmology, but continued assessment and preventative policies should be maintained to continue current trends.