Closing the Gap: Training Experiences and Career Outcomes for Underrepresented Minorities in Plastic Surgery

Background: The present study assesses training characteristics, scholastic achievements, and traditional career accomplishments of ethnically underrepresented in medicine (UIM) plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) faculty relative to non-UIM PRS faculty. Method: A cross-sectional analysis of core PRS faculty appointed to accredited United States residency training programs (n = 99) was performed. Results: Of the 949 US PRS faculty, a total of 51 (5.4%) were identified as UIM. Compared with non-UIM faculty, there were few differences when evaluating medical education, residency training, pursuit of advanced degrees, and attainment of subspecialty fellowship training. UIM faculty were more likely than non-UIM faculty to have graduated from a medical school outside the United States (25% versus 13%, P = 0.014). In addition, UIM faculty did not differ from non-UIM counterparts in traditional career accomplishments, including promotion to full professor, obtaining NIH funding, serving as program director, receiving an endowed professorship, appointment to a peer-reviewed editorial board, scholarly contributions (H-index and number of publications), and appointment to chief/chair of their division/department. Conclusions: The historical lack of ethnic diversity that comprise US academic PRS faculty persists. This study reveals that those UIM faculty who are able to obtain faculty appointments are equally successful in achieving scholastic success and traditional career accomplishments as their non-UIM counterparts. As we strive toward increasing representation of UIM physicians in academic plastic surgery, the field will benefit from efforts that promote a pipeline for underrepresented groups who traditionally face barriers to entry.