Journal article
Diversity in US medical school department chairs: 45-year retrospective analysis
BMJ leader, pleader-2025-001283
14 Oct 2025
PMID: 41093376
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
ObjectiveTo evaluate the trends in sex and race/ethnicity demographics of department chairs at US medical schools over 45 years.DesignThis was a longitudinal retrospective analysis of the Association of American Medical Colleges database.SettingThe study analysed the sex and race/ethnicity of department chairs in US medical schools.ParticipantsDepartment chairs were classified by sex and self-reported race/ethnicity. Data from 1977 to 2022 were used to evaluate changes in the demographic composition of leadership roles over time.ExposureIdentifying as female and/or as part of an under-represented in medicine group.Main outcomes and measuresThe outcome measures were demographic (ie, sex, race and ethnicity) trends among department chairs.ResultsThe analysis depicted under-representation of women and racial minorities in department chairs. A notable increase was noted in the number of Asian, Black or African American, and Hispanic or Latino department chairs. However, this was outnumbered by the number of white individuals in leadership positions.Conclusion and relevanceThe end of affirmative action is expected to jeopardise the progress made and has the potential to perpetuate the lack of diversity in the department chair positions.
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Details
- Title
- Diversity in US medical school department chairs: 45-year retrospective analysis
- Creators
- Milin Patel - University of OttawaNachiket Patel - Toronto Metropolitan UniversityJeffrey Ding - University of British ColumbiaShaheer Mujahid - University Hospital of North TeesNancy D Spector - Drexel University, PediatricsSophia Kamran - Harvard UniversityJaved Siddiqi - Arrowhead Regional Medical CenterFaisal Khosa - University of British Columbia Hospital
- Publication Details
- BMJ leader, pleader-2025-001283
- Publisher
- BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Pediatrics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001599288700001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105019551982
- Other Identifier
- 991022121987104721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Health Care Sciences & Services