Trends in Racial and Ethnic Diversity of Ophthalmology Residents and Residency Applicants

Abstract

The proportions of individuals who are underrepresented in medicine (URiM) in ophthalmology lag behind their proportions within the US population. Diversity trends have been studied in other specialties, but literature examining trends in ophthalmology is lacking. In this study, we investigate trends in the racial and ethnic demographics of ophthalmology residents and residency applicants. Trend study. Demographic data of all residency programs across all specialties were extracted from Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education yearly reports from 2011 to 2019. Data from 2016 to 2019 on ophthalmology match applicants were analyzed using the 2020 Ophthalmology Residency Match Summary Report and the 2020 Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Residency Gender & Ethnicity Summary. Linear trends were examined by the Cochran-Armitage test. From 2011 to 2019, the raw percentage of URiM ophthalmology residents increased from 4.7% (66/1419) to 5.8% (85/1473) (P < .001) whereas that of surgical specialties decreased from 9.9% (2164/21,967) to 9.1% (2370/26,082) (P < .001). The percentage of URiM ophthalmology match applicants increased from 5.9% (43/726) of all applicants to 11.8% (87/741) from 2016 to 2019 (P < .001), and the percentage of URiMs matching into ophthalmology increased from 4.9% (23/467) of all participants to 10.8% (52/484) from 2016 to 2019 (P < .001). Although there has been a positive trend in the percentage of URiMs applying and matching into ophthalmology, a lack of racial and ethnic diversity relative to other specialties persists. Strategies are needed to increase diversity in the field.