H-Index and Promotion in Academic Radiation Oncology

Academic promotion in radiation oncology is influenced by multiple factors, including scholarly productivity and demographic characteristics. While citation-based metrics such as the h-index are increasingly used as objective measures of academic output, the impact of demographic factors such as sex and underrepresented minority (URM) status remains inadequately defined. This study represents the first evaluation of the predictive value of h-index, sex, and URM status on academic promotion.

A retrospective cohort of 554 radiation oncologists from 51 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, initially identified in 2019 (T1) and re-evaluated in 2023 (T2), was assessed. Academic promotion status, h-index (2019), sex, URM status, and institutional affiliation were recorded. A generalized linear mixed model assessed associations between these variables and promotion status, with significance defined as P <0.05.

The cohort included 203 women (36.7%) and 21 URMs (3.8%); overall, 338 (61%) received promotions between T1 and T2. The mean h-index was 12.3 (median=9), with promoted individuals averaging 15.3 versus 10 for those not promoted. A statistically significant association was found between a higher h-index and promotion ( P <0.0001). Further analysis revealed that neither female sex (odds ratio: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.68-1.52; P =0.94) nor URM status (odds ratio: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.19-1.71; P =0.32) was significantly associated with promotion.

In the first examination of the impact of h-index on radiation oncology promotion, a higher h-index is a statistically significant predictor of academic promotion among radiation oncologists. Given limited statistical power to detect differences by demographic characteristics and ongoing underrepresentation of certain groups compared with the population, ongoing work to ensure fair access to opportunities for all remains important.