Update: Diversity and Practice Patterns of International Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons

The authors' group characterized the cranio-maxillo-facial workforce 10 years ago, revealing high levels of career satisfaction but significant gender disparity. This study provides an updated profile of the international cranio-maxillo-facial workforce.

A 30-question electronic survey was distributed to 387 cranio-maxillo-facial surgeons with membership in the American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, and international Society of Craniofacial Surgery. Questions related to demographics, training background, practice setting, surgical volume, career satisfaction, and perceived discrimination. Independent samples t test was used to compare continuous variables.

The authors received 91 responses (response rate = 23.5%). The majority of respondents were White (n = 73, 80.2%), non-Hispanic (n = 85, 93.4%), heterosexual (n = 72, 79.1%), cisgender males (n = 74, 81.3%). Practice setting was primarily academic, 65.9% (n = 60) and group/hospital-based 88.3% (n = 68), with two-thirds of respondents practicing in the United States. Female surgeons reported earlier planned retirement (66 versus 70 years, P = 0.012) and more personal encounters with discrimination of any kind (69% versus 29%, P = 0.033). US craniofacial surgeons reported more racial and sexual orientation-based discrimination compared with non-US surgeons ( P = 0.049 and P = 0.048, respectively). Older surgeons (>55 years old) reported less perceived gender discrimination ( P = 0.041). There was no difference between subgroups in career satisfaction or likelihood of repeating/recommending a cranio-maxillo-facial fellowship.

Female representation in cranio-maxillo-facial surgery on an international scale has increased over the past decade, but this study demonstrates persistent, disparate perception of workplace discrimination by gender, practice region, and age.