Racial and Ethnic Differences in Resident Selection in 11 Specialties, 2013-2018

Underrepresented in medicine (URiM) residents: A scoping review on prevalence trends & improving recruitment

BACKGROUND

Disparities exist in underrepresented in medicine (URiM) resident representation. This review examines recent trends in resident diversity, URiM recruitment strategies, and identifies research gaps in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for URiM residents.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and ERIC databases were searched for studies published from 2017 to 2022 on URiM resident prevalence and recruitment initiatives.

RESULTS

3634 abstracts were reviewed, and 52 articles were included. 35 (67 ​%) studies reported on prevalence of URiM residents, demonstrating URiM resident composition is lower than residency applicant demographics, particularly in surgery. Seventeen (33 ​%) studies reported on URiM recruitment interventions, such as visiting clerkship programs, holistic review, and targeted outreach, and demonstrated success in increasing recruitment of URiM candidates to programs.

CONCLUSIONS

URiM residents remain disproportionately underrepresented, and markedly so among surgical residency programs. Further research should focus on implementing EDI interventions in surgery and assess URiM resident attrition post-matriculation.

Trends in Female Physicians Entering High-Compensation Specialties, 2008 to 2022

This study examines US trends in the proportion of female applicants and matriculants to residency programs for high-compensation surgical and nonsurgical pipeline specialties during 2008-2022.

Human resource management at the intensive care unit: A pragmatic review and future research agenda for building a learning health system

Recently, the importance of efficient and effective health care has been recognized, especially during the acute phase of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Intensive care units (ICUs) have faced an immense workload, with massive numbers of patients being treated in a very short period of time. In general, ICUs are required to deliver high-quality care at all times during the year. At the same time, high-quality organizational goals may not be aligned with the interests, motivation, and development of individual staff members (eg, nurses, and doctors). For management of the ICU, it is important to balance the organizational goals and development of the staff members ("their human capital"), usually referred to as human resource management. Although many studies have considered this area, no holistic view of the topic has been presented. Such a holistic view may help leadership and/or other stakeholders at the ICU to design a better learning health system. This pragmatic review aims to provide a conceptual model for the management of ICUs. Future research may also use this conceptual model for studying important factors for designing and understanding human resources in an ICU.

Diversity in the pathway from medical student to specialist in the Netherlands: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Medical specialist workforces are not representative of the society they serve, partially due to loss of diversity in the path from student to specialist. We investigated which demographic characteristics of bachelor students of medicine (BSM) are associated with becoming a physician and (particular type of) medical specialist; and whether this suggests 'cloning' (reproduction of sameness) of the existing workforce.

Methods

We used a retrospective cohort design, based on Statistics Netherlands data of all first-year BSM in 2002-2004 in The Netherlands (N = 4503). We used logistic regression to analyze the impact of sex, migration background, urbanity of residence, parental income and assets categories, and having healthcare professional parents, on being registered as physician or medical specialist in 2021. We compared our results to the national pool of physicians (N = 76,845) and medical specialists (N = 49,956) to identify cloning patterns based on Essed's cultural cloning theory.

Findings

Female students had higher odds of becoming a physician (OR 1.87 [1.53-2.28], p < 0.001). Physicians with a migration background other than Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese, Dutch Caribbean or Indonesian (TMSDI) had lower odds of becoming a specialist (OR 0.55 [0.43-0.71], p < 0.001). This was not significant for TMSDI physicians (OR 0.74 [0.54-1.03], p = 0.073). We found a cloning pattern with regard to sex and migration background. Nationwide, physicians with a Turkish or Moroccan migration background, and female physicians with other migration backgrounds, are least likely to be a medical specialist.

Interpretation

In light of equity in healthcare systems, we recommend that every recruitment body increases the representativeness of their particular specialist workforce.

Funding

ODISSEI.

Obstetrics and gynecology clerkship directors' experiences advising residency applicants

BACKGROUND

The evolving landscape of application processes for obstetrics and gynecology residency applicants poses many challenges for applicants and advisors. The lack of data coordination among national groups creates crucial gaps in information for stakeholder groups.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify the current state of the advising milieu for obstetrics and gynecology residency applicants and their career advisors, the annual Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics survey focused on US clerkship directors' experiences advising students through these processes.

STUDY DESIGN

A 23-item anonymous survey was developed that asked respondents about demographics and outcomes for the students that they advised through the 2021 application process and their experiences with dual applicants and students not matching. The survey was sent electronically to all obstetrics and gynecology clerkship directors with active Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics memberships in April 2021.

RESULTS

Of 224 total clerkship directors, 143 (63.8%) responded to the survey, Of the 143 respondents, almost all (136 [95.1%]) served as career advisors, and 50 (35.0%) were aware of students dual applying. Furthermore, obstetrics and gynecology was rarely the backup to a more competitive specialty. For the 2021 application cycle, 79 of 143 respondents (55.2%) reported having students not successfully match into obstetrics and gynecology, with "academic concerns" followed by "poor communication skills" as the primary reasons cited for students not matching.

CONCLUSION

This snapshot of clerkship directors' experiences advising students in the residency application process reveals notably high rates of dual applicants and students not matching into obstetrics and gynecology. This work fills key gaps in our knowledge of current processes and highlights the importance of career advising at multiple points during the application process.

Intersectionality of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in the Otolaryngology Match From 2013 to 2019

OBJECTIVES

Racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in the otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) match have been described individually, but not intersectionally. Intersectionality recognizes how multiple forms of discrimination (e.g., sexism, racism) can have a combined effect. The objective of this study was to analyze racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in the OHNS match using an intersectional approach.

METHODS

Cross-sectional evaluation of data from otolaryngology applicants from the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and of corresponding otolaryngology residents from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) from 2013 to 2019. Data were stratified by race, ethnicity, and gender. The Cochran-Armitage tests assessed trends over time in the proportions of applicants and corresponding residents. Chi-square tests with Yates' continuity correction were performed to evaluate differences between the aggregate proportions of applicants and corresponding residents.

RESULTS

The proportion of White men in the resident pool was increased compared to the applicant pool (ACGME 0.417, ERAS 0.375; Δ + 0.042; 95% CI 0.012 to 0.071; p = 0.03). This was also the case for White women (ACGME 0.206, ERAS 0.175; Δ + 0.031; 95% CI 0.007 to 0.055; p = 0.05). In contrast, there was a smaller proportion of residents compared to applicants among Multiracial men (ACGME 0.014, ERAS 0.047; Δ - 0.033; 95% CI -0.043 to -0.023; p < 0.001) and Multiracial women (ACGME 0.010, ERAS 0.026; Δ - 0.016; 95% CI -0.024 to -0.008; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study imply that White men have a persistent advantage, while several racial, ethnic, and gender minorities are disadvantaged in the OHNS match. Further research is necessary to examine why these differences exist in residency selection, including evaluation during the screening, reviewing, interviewing, and ranking stages. Laryngoscope, 133:2558-2563, 2023.

Analysis of Racial and Gender Distribution of US-Doctor of Medicines Graduates Entering Into General Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties' Residencies: The Need for Effective & Sustainable Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategies

INTRODUCTION

We aim to investigate disparities & inequities based on race, sex, graduating age, and the number of peer-reviewed publications among allopathic U.S. Doctor of Medicine graduates who reported entering a surgical training program over a span of 5 y.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort analysis of the Association of American Medical Colleges student records system and Electronic Residency Application Service for graduates entering a surgical specialty residency during graduate medical education training cycles 2015-2020.

RESULTS

African American, Asian, and Hispanic applicants each accounted for less than 1% of graduates who reported entering a surgical training program. Asians (OR = 0.58, P = 0.01) and those identifying as other races (OR = 0.74, P = 0.01) were significantly less likely to enter a surgical subspecialty when compared to Caucasians. Orthopedic surgery contained the lowest proportion of minorities; African Americans 0.5% (n = 18), Asians 0.3% (n = 11), Hispanics 0.1% (n = 4), and others with 2% (n = 68). Females who reported entering Orthopedic surgery training represented the smallest female population in surgical specialties (17%, n = 527). The number of peer-reviewed publications was significantly associated with male sex (β = 0.28, P < 0.01), age between 30 and 32 at graduation (β = 1.76, P < 0.01), and identification as other races (β = 1.53, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Racial minorities represented only 5.1% of graduates who reported entering a surgical specialty graduate medical education training program. Minority races and females were significantly less likely to enter a surgical subspecialty training program compared to Caucasian graduates and males, especially in orthopedic surgery. Implementation of specialty-specific programs and diversity, equity, and inclusion departments that promote mentorship and guidance toward residency programs is needed to combat continued race and sex disparities.