Instructional Course Lectures at Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Society Meetings With Female Moderators.

Abstract

Background: It has been estimated that only 6.5% of practicing orthopaedic surgeons are female. However, with the number of women in orthopaedic surgery increasing over the past 2 decades as more female medical students are applying to orthopaedic surgery residency, it is important for trainees, mentors, and all stakeholders in the field to understand what variables affect opportunities for career advancement.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate gender diversity among instructional course lecture (ICL) faculty at recent orthopaedic sports medicine meetings and to determine whether factors such as moderator gender affect selection of ICL panelists. It was hypothesized that there would be more female representation at orthopaedic sports medicine meetings overall compared with previous years, as well as more female faculty on ICLs with female moderators.

Study design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Demographic data on ICL moderators and panelists were collected in September 2023 from annual meeting programs for the Arthroscopy Association of North America from 2016 to 2023 and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine from 2018 to 2023 via an internet search.

Results: ICLs with female moderators were more likely to include female panelists (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 2.5-8.6; P < .0001). Male moderators had more years in practice (16.8 vs 7.2; P = .0002). Among panelists, men had higher H-indices (36 vs 23; P < .0001), a number used to describe a researcher's productivity and impact, and years in practice (19 vs 16; P = .02). Academic ranks were significantly different between male and female moderators (P < .00001 for professor and associate professor categories). There was no significant difference in departmental leadership between male and female moderators.

Conclusion: Female faculty were predominantly in academic practices yet were less likely to be in academic or departmental leadership roles. ICLs with a female moderator were more likely to have female panelists. Sports medicine societies should take this into account when considering ways to increase diversity among faculty on ICLs at annual meetings.