Introduction: Orthopaedic surgery remains the least diverse medical specialty when measured in terms of practicing physicians and trainees. The purpose of this study was to determine the number and different types of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) positions within orthopaedic surgery residency programs in the United States.

Methods: The Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FRIEDA) was used to obtain a list of all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited orthopaedic surgery residency programs. Military programs were excluded, and one other program was excluded for lack of a functional website. The websites for the remaining 193 orthopaedic residency programs were studied from June 6, 2022, to June 26, 2022. The following data was collected from each residency program website: program location, university or community based, allopathic or osteopathic recognition, number of faculty in the orthopaedic department, number of residents per year, diversity-related statements, and diversity-focused faculty positions. Results: Of the 193 programs evaluated, 74 (38.9%) included DEI statements on their website, while only 42 (21.8%) had at least one DEI specific faculty role (e.g., diversity committee, diversity liaison, director of diversity and inclusion, vice chair for DEI). For 16 (8.3%) programs, the faculty role was non-specific to the orthopaedic residency program. Non-specific roles were primarily created by the affiliated school of medicine, but in 4 (2.1%) outlier cases, faculty members assumed DEI roles through a medical center, a graduate medical education program, or a department of surgery. Conclusion: Seventy-four of 193 (38.9%) orthopaedic residencies advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion through DEI statements or initiatives (eg scholarships given to underrepresented in medicine applicants for away rotations at orthopaedic residencies), yet only 42 (21.8%) currently have a DEI faculty position. Previous studies have called for a greater number of DEI positions and committees amongst orthopaedic residencies due to the lower admittance rate of qualified URiM applicants. A role specifically dedicated to DEI may increase the number of women and URiM applicants pursuing a career in orthopaedic surgery.

References

1.Cohen SA, Xiao M, Zhuang T, Michaud J, Wadhwa H, Shapiro L, Kamal RN. How do orthopaedic surgery residency program websites feature diversity? An analysis of 187 orthopaedic surgery programs in the United States. Curr Orthop Pract. 2022 May-Jun;33(3):258-263. doi: 10.1097/bco.0000000000001101. PMID: 35685001; PMCID: PMC9173404.