Perceived Barriers to Increasing Diversity within Oculofacial Plastic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Oculofacial Plastic Surgery
• Medical Education and Training
• Diversity and Inclusion in Medicine

Background:

• Physician diversity remains a significant challenge within ophthalmology, particularly in the subspecialty of oculofacial plastic surgery.
• Understanding the barriers within the application process is essential for developing targeted strategies to enhance the recruitment of underrepresented groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify perceived barriers to increasing diversity among oculofacial plastic surgery trainees.
• To gather insights from current fellows and fellowship program directors (FPDs) within the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).

Main Methods:

• A Qualtrics survey with 15 questions was distributed in February 2021 to 54 ASOPRS fellows and 56 FPDs nationwide.
• The survey aimed to collect data on perceived barriers to diversity in the oculofacial plastic surgery fellowship application process.

Main Results:

• A response rate of 57% was achieved, with 34 fellows and 29 FPDs participating. A significant majority identified as non-underrepresented in medicine (UiM) and male.
• FPDs cited insufficient minority applicants and objective data (e.g., Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program, USMLE Step scores) not meeting thresholds as key barriers.
• Fellows prioritized 'Likelihood of matching' highest, while rating 'Racially/ethnically diverse faculty' and 'Perceptions of minority candidates' lowest. Gender differences in concerns were noted (financial for men, family for women).

Conclusions:

• FPDs suggest that recruiting diverse students, mentoring, and reducing application process bias are vital for improving diversity in oculofacial plastic surgery.
• The low representation of UiM individuals (6% fellows, 7.4% FPDs) in the study highlights the persistent underrepresentation and the need for further investigation.