Female Leadership in Pediatric Ophthalmology: A Descriptive Analysis.

PURPOSE: To examine female representation among current chiefs of pediatric ophthalmology services of academic medical centers and children's hospitals, as well as program directors of ophthalmology residency and pediatric ophthalmology fellowship programs in the United States. METHODS: Data collection for this cross-sectional study occurred between December 2023 and February 2024, using publicly available sources to compile a list of academic medical centers and children's hospitals, as well as ophthalmology residency programs and pediatric ophthalmology fellowship programs that participated in the 2023-2024 San Francisco Match. Chi-squared analyses were performed using Excel 2021 software, where a P value less than .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of the dedicated pediatric ophthalmology services across academic medical centers and children's hospitals in the United States, 38.3% (64/167) are led by a female chief. Female representation was greater at children's hospitals (40.0%, 36/90) than at academic medical centers (36.4%, 28/77), although no significant difference was observed (P = .69). Gender distribution was near equivalent at both academic training program levels, with slightly more female directors of fellowship programs (45.7%, 21/46) than ophthalmology residency programs (42.3%, 52/123) (P = .33). CONCLUSIONS: The authors report near equivalent female representation in the leadership of academic training programs at the residency and fellowship level. However, the proportion of female pediatric ophthalmology division chiefs lags behind the actual gender composition of the workforce. Given the increasing prevalence of female pediatric ophthalmologists, promotion of concordant representation in leadership is necessary to reflect the changing sociocultural landscape and to close the gender gap. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 20XX;X(X):XX-XX.].

Review of the Disparities in Access to Pediatric Eye Care Among Low Socioeconomic Status and Underrepresented Racial Minority Groups Exacerbated by the Economic Downturn in Pediatric Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To explore the association between race and socioeconomic status on health disparities in pediatric eye care, characterize the status of diversity within the pediatric ophthalmology workforce, and propose potential solutions to improve access to vision care, particularly for children from vulnerable populations. METHODS: The major studies examining the socioeconomic and racial disparities in visual outcomes and the impact of diversity in the ophthalmology workforce were reviewed. RESULTS: Currently, the pediatric ophthalmology workforce has limited racial diversity, and increasing the number of underrepresented in medicine providers has potential to improve access to pediatric eye care, particularly for underserved populations. Mobile eye clinics, school-based vision programs, and health literacy initiatives may engage communities to bring eye care directly to children and enhance follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Families with lower socioeconomic status may represent a vulnerable population facing significant access to pediatric eye care barriers, particularly for asymptomatic pediatric eye conditions. Emphasis on strategies that directly engage communities and bring free vision care to families should be given to improve disparities in visual health outcomes. Ophthalmologists and pediatric ophthalmologists should be aware of the current racial underrepresentation within the pediatric ophthalmology workforce, and the importance of workforce diversity in accelerating physician-patient concordance and access to eye care. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(3):172-178.].