Workforce Diversity in Cardiothoracic Surgery: An Examination of Recent Demographic Changes and the Training Pathway
Presented During:
Saturday, May 6, 2023: 10:15AM - 10:30AM
Los Angeles Convention Center
Posted Room Name:
406AB
Abstract No:
28
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Ibraheem Hamzat (1), David Fenton (1), Milda Saunders (1), Sarah Nisivaco (2), Husam Balkhy (3), Chelsea Dorsey (4)
Institutions:
(1) Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL, USA, Chicago, IL, (2) Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Northwestern University, IL, USA, Chicago, IL, (3) University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, (4) Department of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, University of Chicago, IL, USA, Chicago, IL
Submitting Author:
Ibraheem Hamzat
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Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL, USA
Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL, USA
Co-Author(s):
David Fenton
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Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL, USA
Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL, USA
Milda Saunders
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Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL, USA
Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL, USA
Sarah Nisivaco
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Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Northwestern University, IL, USA
Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Northwestern University, IL, USA
*Husam Balkhy
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University of Chicago Medical Center
University of Chicago Medical Center
Chelsea Dorsey
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Department of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, University of Chicago, IL, USA
Department of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, University of Chicago, IL, USA
Presenting Author:
Ibraheem Hamzat
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Abstract:
Objectives: The purpose of our study was to examine changes in the demographic makeup of I6 residency and thoracic fellowship programs from 2012- 2022 compared to vascular surgery, general surgery (GS), and orthopedic surgery (OS) residency programs. Additionally, we sought to better understand where leaks in the training pathway to thoracic surgery exist for women, Black, and Hispanic medical students.
Methods: Data from U.S. Graduate Medical Education reports from 2012-2022 and medical student enrollment data from the Association of American Medical Colleges were obtained. Average percentages of women and underrepresented minorities were then calculated in two 5-year intervals: 2013-2017 and 2018-2022. Average percentages of women, Black, and Hispanic medical students were calculated for the 2019-22 period. Simple statistics using Pearson Chi-Squared tests were conducted to determine significant differences in proportions of women, Black/African-American, and Hispanic trainees across time. Significance levels were set at α = 0.05.
Results: Thoracic surgery fellowship and I6 residency programs saw a significant increase in women trainees across the two time periods (19.9% [210/1055] to 24.6% [87/1169], p<0.01 and 24.1% [143/592] to 28.9% [330/1142], p<0.05). A similarly significant increase in women trainees was seen in GS and OS. The percentage of Black GS residents decreased significantly across this period (6% [2430/40531] to 5.6% [2626/47033], p<0.01), while the percentage of Hispanics increased in OS and GS residents increased significantly (5.2% [936/17935] to 6.2% [1296/20845], p<0.01 and 8.3% [3373/40531] to 9.3% [4390/47033], p<0.01). There was no significant change in Black and Hispanic residents in thoracic fellowships or I6 programs. In comparison to medical school representation, Hispanic trainees were the only group whose proportion of thoracic fellows and GS residents significantly increased (p<0.05 and p<0.01). However, women and Black trainees had significantly lower proportions of thoracic fellows and I6 residents than their proportions in medical school (p<0.01).
Conclusions: The field of cardiothoracic surgery has not significantly increased the number of Black and Hispanic residents in the past decade. The lower proportion of Blacks and women in thoracic residency and fellowship compared to their proportion in medical school is an area of concern and an opportunity for intervention by institutions and national societies.
Methods: Data from U.S. Graduate Medical Education reports from 2012-2022 and medical student enrollment data from the Association of American Medical Colleges were obtained. Average percentages of women and underrepresented minorities were then calculated in two 5-year intervals: 2013-2017 and 2018-2022. Average percentages of women, Black, and Hispanic medical students were calculated for the 2019-22 period. Simple statistics using Pearson Chi-Squared tests were conducted to determine significant differences in proportions of women, Black/African-American, and Hispanic trainees across time. Significance levels were set at α = 0.05.
Results: Thoracic surgery fellowship and I6 residency programs saw a significant increase in women trainees across the two time periods (19.9% [210/1055] to 24.6% [87/1169], p<0.01 and 24.1% [143/592] to 28.9% [330/1142], p<0.05). A similarly significant increase in women trainees was seen in GS and OS. The percentage of Black GS residents decreased significantly across this period (6% [2430/40531] to 5.6% [2626/47033], p<0.01), while the percentage of Hispanics increased in OS and GS residents increased significantly (5.2% [936/17935] to 6.2% [1296/20845], p<0.01 and 8.3% [3373/40531] to 9.3% [4390/47033], p<0.01). There was no significant change in Black and Hispanic residents in thoracic fellowships or I6 programs. In comparison to medical school representation, Hispanic trainees were the only group whose proportion of thoracic fellows and GS residents significantly increased (p<0.05 and p<0.01). However, women and Black trainees had significantly lower proportions of thoracic fellows and I6 residents than their proportions in medical school (p<0.01).
Conclusions: The field of cardiothoracic surgery has not significantly increased the number of Black and Hispanic residents in the past decade. The lower proportion of Blacks and women in thoracic residency and fellowship compared to their proportion in medical school is an area of concern and an opportunity for intervention by institutions and national societies.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION:
Recruitment and Retention
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