Major Deficit in the Number of Underrepresented Minority Academic Surgeons Persists

• DOI: 10.1097/sla.0b013e31817f2c30
• Publication Date: 2008-10-21T07:17:26Z
• Authors: Paris D. Butler; Michael T. Longaker; L D. Britt
• Keywords: Underrepresented Minority; Demographics; Ethnically diverse

Eliminating health care disparities in the United States will require a multifaceted approach that include increasing diversity workforce. Historically, field of medicine, and particularly surgery, has had an incumbent grossly misrepresents patient population. Delineating exact demographics U.S. surgical residents faculty could provide outstanding information, yielding insight into possible deficit that, if rectified by medical education system, change face surgery entire system.Demographic information regarding students, residents, was retrieved analyzed from Association American Medical Colleges data files dating back to 1966.Whites comprise 64.4% whereas Asian Americans, African Latino Americans 17.2%, 4.7%, 5.1%, respectively. Whites 74.1%, academic surgeons, 10.8%, 2.9%, 3.6%, 5.4% 4.8% all but only 2.9% 3.6% 85.7% tenured professors, 4.9%, 1.8%, 2.7%, respectively.Academic is exceedingly deficient minority junior faculty, professors. Correcting this misrepresentation would facilitate establishing more culturally ethnically sensitive environment for patients who otherwise not seek care. Additionally, with there likely be commensurate increase investigative studies highlighting specific needs additional role models mentors future surgeons.