Diversity of Physician Faculty in Obstetrics and Gynecology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate physician faculty diversity in obstetrics and gynecology (ob-gyn) and how it compares with other clinical departments and medical student demographics. STUDY DESIGN: Data from the Association of American Medical College's Faculty Roster were extracted to differentiate full-time physician faculty by gender and by underrepresentation in medicine (Black, Hispanic, Native American/Alaskans, and Pacific Islanders). Whole population data were updated on a rolling basis from the earliest year of reliable data (1973) to the most recent year (2012). RESULTS: The total number of full-time ob-gyn faculty increased from 922 in 1973 to 4,208 in 2012. The increase in proportion of faculty who were women (from 9.9% to 52.7%) contributed to the growth of underrepresented faculty (from 7.7% to 13.3%) during this period. Percentages of ob-gyn faculty who were women and underrepresented in 2012 were higher than in other core clinical departments and similar to those of current medical student matriculants. CONCLUSION: Expansion of physician faculty in ob-gyn over the past 40 years has led to greater diversity than exists in many other departments and is more reflective of medical student demographics.