Diversity among transplant surgery fellowship program directors: a call to action

Abstract

Background: The diversity among general surgery residency, HPB and other fellowship program directors has been previously analyzed. However, the diversity in abdominal transplant surgery fellowship program directors remains unknown.

Methods: Abdominal transplant fellowship programs and the corresponding program directors were identified from the American Society of Transplant Surgeons website. Demographic and training information for the members was compiled through internet searches and analyzed.

Results: 72 program directors were included. 83.33% were male. 63.9% were non-Hispanic White, 25% were Asian, along with 5.56% Hispanic and Black each. Male program directors were more likely to be Associate Professor (p = 0.041), while females were more likely to be Assistant Professor (p = 0.021). 66% of female program directors were non-Hispanic White.

Conclusion: Transplant surgery fellowship programs are primarily led by male and non-Hispanic White surgeons. Female representation as leaders is on par with their membership in the transplant surgery workforce. There is a deficiency of both male and female underrepresented minorities in program director positions.