Updates on Diversity Among Cardiology-Related Fellowships

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Cardiology Fellowships
• Healthcare Diversity

Background:

• Healthcare diversity is crucial for improved patient outcomes.
• Existing disparities in the US medical system necessitate investigation into fellowship representation.
• Cardiology fellowships are key training grounds for future specialists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the representation of females, osteopathic doctors (DOs), and non-US graduates in US cardiology fellowships.
• To identify specific cardiology subspecialties with significant diversity gaps.
• To compare representation against male, allopathic medical doctor (MD), and US-graduate peers.

Main Methods:

• Data obtained from the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access System (FRIEDA™) for 2022-2023.
• Analysis of accredited cardiology fellowship programs from internal medicine and surgical backgrounds.
• Statistical significance determined using SAS Studio and Wilson score for confidence intervals.

Main Results:

• Generalized, marked disparities (p<0.001) were observed for females, DOs, and non-US graduates across most cardiology fellowships.
• Notable exceptions: Interventional Cardiology showed strong representation of non-US graduates (p=0.3775).
• Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology demonstrated equal representation of females (p=0.0863).

Conclusions:

• Despite ongoing diversity initiatives, significant underrepresentation persists in cardiology fellowships.
• Targeted interventions are needed to address barriers for underrepresented groups in cardiology.
• Enhancing diversity in cardiology is essential for promoting competence, empathy, and inclusive patient care.