Sex, Race, and Ethnicity in Academic Dermatology in the United States: A Longitudinal Analysis.

Abstract

Introduction: Sex and racial/ethnic disparities in academic medicine are an intractable and inordinate reality. The purpose of our study was to analyze the 56-year trends in sex and racial/ethnic demographics in academic dermatology in the United States.

Methods: Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges Faculty Roster between 1966 and 2021 were analyzed to trend the representation of sex and race/ethnicity by academic ranks, leadership positions, and tenure statuses using linear regression. In addition, differences in representation using 56-year means were assessed using the Mann-Whitney test for sex and Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Dunn multiple comparisons test for race/ethnicity.

Results: In 2021, academic dermatologists were 66.71% (1072/1607) White, 20.97% (337/1607) Asian, 2.86% (46/1607) Black, and 2.49% (40/1607) Hispanic. From 1966 to 2021, the total number of academic dermatologists increased from 107 to 1607 [mean +26.92 (95% CI 25.15-28.70) per year, P < .001]. Specifically, annual proportional increases for groups were women +0.93 (0.90-0.96)% (P < .001); Asians +0.38 (0.34-0.42)% (P < .001); Blacks +0.01 (0.01-0.02)% (P < .001); and Hispanics +0.01 (0-0.02)% (P = .001).

Discussion: Despite these increasing trends, in 2021, the most recent year for which data were provided, there remained a far greater proportion of male and/or White physicians in senior academic ranks (65.35% male and 75.85% White professors), leadership positions (79.52% male and 66.27% White chairpersons), and tenure (67.17% male and 77.78% White). Although there have been efforts to improve diversity and inclusion in academic dermatology over the 56-year study period, sex and racial/ethnic disparities persist.