Sex Disparities in Productivity among Oculoplastic Surgeons

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Education
• Sociology of Science

Background:

• The field of oculoplastic surgery, like many medical specialties, faces scrutiny regarding gender disparities in academic advancement and research productivity.
• Understanding these disparities is crucial for promoting equity and optimizing career development pathways within the specialty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex-based differences in academic rank, publication productivity (h-index, m-quotient), and National Institute of Health (NIH) funding among oculoplastic surgeons.
• To determine if membership in the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) is associated with scholarly output.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional analysis of 272 oculoplastic surgeons from 113 U.S. ophthalmology programs.
• Data on sex, academic rank, and career duration were collected from institutional websites.
• Publication metrics (h-index, m-quotient) were sourced from Scopus, and NIH funding data from the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool.

Main Results:

• Women comprised 30.2% of the surgeons and had significantly shorter career durations (10 vs. 21 years) and lower h-indices (4 vs. 7) compared to men.
• After adjusting for career duration, significant sex differences in academic rank were only observed at the assistant professor level.
• ASOPRS membership was linked to higher scholarly output for both sexes, and no significant difference in NIH funding was found between men and women.

Conclusions:

• Observed sex differences in academic rank and h-indices in oculoplastic surgery are primarily attributed to shorter career durations among female surgeons.
• ASOPRS membership appears to provide opportunities for enhanced scholarly productivity, irrespective of sex.