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Workforce Representation in Ophthalmology Oral Board Examiners and Examinees
Fasika A Woreta1, Faiqa B Aamir1, Muhammad Ali1
1From the Wilmer Eye Institute (F.A.W., F.B.A, M.A.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
The number of women examiners for the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) oral boards significantly increased after exams moved online. Examinee gender proportions remained consistent throughout the study period.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Education
- Professional Certification
Background:
- The American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) oral board examination is a critical step in certifying ophthalmologists.
- Understanding the demographics of examiners and examinees is essential for assessing equity and trends in the field.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the characteristics of American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) oral board examiners and examinees.
- To examine temporal trends in examiner and examinee gender over time.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the ABO and Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) from 2011 to 2024.
- Examiner data included gender, experience, and scores; examinee data included gender, time since residency, and exam outcome.
- Logistic regression analyzed temporal trends in gender from 2013 to 2024.
Main Results:
- The proportion of women examiners increased significantly, particularly after the transition to virtual exams in 2020 (31.3% in 2019 to 49.1% in 2024).
- The percentage of women examinees remained relatively stable (41.7% in 2019 to 37.5% in 2024).
- The increase in female examiners was statistically significant (p<.001), while the stability in female examinees was also significant (p=.019).
Conclusions:
- Significant increase in female representation among ABO oral board examiners post-virtualization.
- Stable proportion of women among ophthalmology examinees.
- Enhanced scheduling flexibility may further improve examiner diversity.
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