Exploring Underrepresentation: The Role of Diversity Statements in Ophthalmology Residency Programs

Introduction: The underrepresentation of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in the medical field, particularly in ophthalmology, poses a critical challenge to achieving diversity and equity. While URMs constitute 19% of medical school attendees, their presence is markedly lower in ophthalmology residency programs and among practicing ophthalmologists. This study seeks to investigate the prevalence of diversity statements on ophthalmology residency program websites and their role in the underrepresentation of URMs within the field. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study analyzed the websites of 126 ophthalmology residency programs listed on the San Francisco (SF) Match website. Diversity statements were categorized based on their inclusion of specific underrepresented groups (race or ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability) and analyzed for correlation with program characteristics. Descriptive statistics and Chi -squared tests were utilized to assess the prevalence of diversity statements and their association with program size, ranking, geographical location, and institutional nature. Results: Of the 126 programs analyzed, 21 (16.7%) had diversity statements specific to the ophthalmology residency program, and 115 (91.3%) featured institutional -level diversity statements. Race or ethnicity was the most commonly addressed category in diversity statements (75.3%), followed by gender (65.9%), sexual orientation (61.1%), and disability (53.2%). Statistical analyses revealed no significant correlation between program size and the presence of diversity statements. However, higher -ranked programs were more likely to mention sexual orientation and disability. Significant differences were observed at the institutional level, with public institutions more likely to include specific diversity categories. Conclusion: The study highlights a significant disparity in the presence and focus of diversity statements across ophthalmology residency programs. Despite a high prevalence of institutional -level diversity statements, program -specific initiatives are lacking, particularly in addressing disability inclusion. The findings suggest a need for a more comprehensive and targeted effort to address underrepresentation in ophthalmology.