Purpose: Extending research documenting racial disparities in medical education, we investigated whether race and/or the intersectionality of race and gender impacts the likelihood of selection as chief resident (CR).
Background: Black, Latinx, and American Indian groups remain underrepresented despite recruitment efforts in academia. Racial disparities in medical education contribute to difficulty recruiting and maintaining a diverse physician workforce.
Methods: We performed cross-sectional analyses using data from GME Track, a national resident database and tracking system. The inclusion criteria were final-year OBGYN residents in U.S.-based residency programs from 2015-2018. Exposure variables were self-reported race/ethnicity and gender. The outcome was designation as CR. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds of being CR, adjusted for potential confounders of GME year, U.S. citizenship, medical school type, geographic region of residency and AOA status.
Results: There were 5,128 residents included. Overall, Black residents had a significantly decreased odds of selection as CR compared to White residents (OR 0.79, CI 0.65-0.96). Latinx women were less likely to be CR compared to White women (OR 0.69, CI 0.52-0.92). Black men were less likely to be CR compared to White men (OR 0.32, CI 0.17-0.63). Women were slightly more likely to be CR than men (OR 1.19, CI 1.02-1.38). White women had significantly higher odds of being CR compared to Black men (OR 3.79, CI 1.97-7.29).
Discussions: Black men were the most disadvantaged group in consideration of CR in a national sample of OBGYN residents. We recommend that the chief selection process be examined through the lens of equity.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2022, Student, Resident, Faculty, Osteopathic Faculty, Residency Director, Residency Coordinator, Patient Care, Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, GME,
Tera F. Howard, MD MPH, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School; Jordyn Pike; Blessing Oyeniyi, MD; Ashley Trust, MD
