Progress toward gender equity in leadership and representation in academic pediatric ophthalmology

Gender representation in academic pediatric ophthalmology has shifted significantly in recent decades, with increasing female participation. This study examines academic rank, leadership roles, and research productivity as a function of gender.

This cross-sectional study analyzed publicly available data from 126 US academic ophthalmology programs listed in the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA) during August 2024. Data collected from institutional websites identified 451 fellowship-trained pediatric ophthalmologists. Variables included gender, fellowship graduation year, academic rank, leadership roles (eg, department chair, fellowship director, program director), and research productivity metrics (publications, citations, h-index). Statistical comparisons used Pearson's χ² test, the Fisher exact test, and Mann-Whitney U or t tests, where appropriate, with significance defined as P < 0.05.

Women now account for 55.9% (252/451) of academic pediatric ophthalmologists. Among those who completed fellowships before 2000, males constitute a larger proportion than females (69.7% vs 30.3%); since 2000, females comprise a greater share of fellowship graduates (65.3% vs 34.7% [P < 0.01]). Men more frequently serve as full professors (40.9% vs 18.0%, P <0.01]) and department chairs (6.5% vs 2.0% [P = 0.02]; women, more often as assistant professors (54.5% vs 40.1% [P = 0.01]) and program directors (3.6% vs 0.5% [P = 0.03]). Research productivity and academic rank are similar between genders in post-2000 graduates.

Gender disparities persist in senior roles, but recent cohorts of currently practicing faculty demonstrate similar levels of academic rank and research productivity. Women now account for 55.9% of academic pediatric ophthalmologists and 65.3% of post-2000 graduates.