Residency Program Directors of United States Ophthalmology Programs: A Descriptive Analysis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Education
• Academic Medicine

Background:

• Understanding the demographics and academic profiles of ophthalmology residency program directors (PDs) is crucial for medical education.
• Previous analyses have not comprehensively detailed the characteristics of these key leadership positions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the academic background, scholarly achievements, and demographic characteristics of all US ophthalmology residency program directors (PDs).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed.
• Publicly available online resources were systematically searched from February 16 to February 26, 2019.
• Demographic and academic data were collected for 116 ophthalmology PDs.

Main Results:

• The majority of PDs (72%) were male, with an average age of 50.0 years.
• Most PDs (93%) graduated from US medical schools, and 78% completed a fellowship, most commonly in glaucoma, cornea, or neuro-ophthalmology.
• While publication numbers were similar between genders, male PDs had a significantly higher H-index (9.8 vs. 5.4, P=0.01).

Conclusions:

• Ophthalmology PDs are predominantly male, with common fellowship training in glaucoma, cornea, and neuro-ophthalmology.
• Women remain underrepresented in these leadership roles.
• Future initiatives should focus on addressing the existing gender disparity in ophthalmology program directorships.