Exploring Underrepresentation: The Role of Diversity Statements in Ophthalmology Residency Programs

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Ophthalmology
• Diversity and Inclusion

Background:

• Underrepresented minorities (URMs) are significantly underrepresented in ophthalmology residency programs and practice.
• This disparity impacts diversity and equity within the medical field.
• Investigating diversity statements on program websites is crucial to understanding this issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the prevalence of diversity statements on ophthalmology residency program websites.
• To assess the content of these statements regarding various underrepresented groups.
• To explore the correlation between diversity statements and program characteristics.

Main Methods:

• An observational, cross-sectional study analyzed 126 ophthalmology residency program websites.
• Diversity statements were evaluated for mentions of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.
• Statistical analyses, including Chi-squared tests, correlated statement presence with program size, ranking, location, and institutional type.

Main Results:

• Only 16.7% of programs had specific diversity statements, while 91.3% had institutional-level statements.
• Race/ethnicity was most frequently addressed (75.3%), followed by gender (65.9%), sexual orientation (61.1%), and disability (53.2%).
• Higher-ranked programs more often mentioned sexual orientation and disability; public institutions showed greater diversity statement inclusion.

Conclusions:

• A notable gap exists in program-specific diversity statements, particularly concerning disability inclusion.
• Institutional statements are common, but targeted program initiatives are needed.
• A more comprehensive approach is required to address underrepresentation in ophthalmology.