Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Plastic Surgery: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Medical Education
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Background:

• Publications on DEI in plastic surgery have surged recently.
• No systematic reviews on DEI in plastic surgery have been published.
• This study addresses the gap in systematic reviews of DEI in plastic surgery literature.

Approach:

• A systematic review of six top plastic surgery journals was conducted.
• Publications from 2018 to 2023 using the search term "diversity" were analyzed.
• Methods, conclusions, and recommendations were tabulated for identified studies.

Key Points:

• 138 publications on diversity were identified; 68 were suitable for analysis.
• Women constitute over 40% of residency applicants and 43% of integrated residents.
• Female residents exceeded men in 2021-2022; women hold 25% of faculty and 22% of program director positions.
• Underrepresented minorities comprise less than 10% of residency applicants.
• Black and Hispanic applicants mirror medical student proportions (6-8%).

Conclusions:

• Women's representation in plastic surgery has significantly increased.
• The low proportion of Black and Hispanic surgeons is due to a limited applicant pool.
• Recommendations exist to enhance minority representation in plastic surgery programs.