Race, Ethnicity, and Sex Representation Trends Among Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship Trainees and Graduates

Study Objective

To study the race, ethnicity, and sex representation and annual trends of AAGL FMIGS fellows and graduates.

Design

A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting

AAMC databases were queried for demographic information between 2011 and 2023.

Patients/subjects

AAGL FMIGS fellows and graduates.

Interventions

N/A

Measurements and Main Results

Descriptive statistical analysis and the actual-to-expected (AE) ratio of each race, ethnicity, and sex were performed. AE ratio was calculated by dividing the 13-year average actual percentage of FMIGS trainees and graduates by the expected percentage based demographics of OBGYN residents and the US general population.

477 fellows graduated or were in training between 2011 and 2023; race and ethnicity information was obtained for 347 (72.7%) individuals, and sex information was available for 409 (85.7%). Representation of females ranged from 66.7% in 2017 to 93.3% in 2022. There was a significantly increasing slope for the representation of females (+1.3% per year; 95% CI 0.00–0.03; p = .027). Compared to their distribution among US OBGYN residents, White fellows’ representation was lower [AE ratio, 95% CI 0.60 (0.44–0.81)] and of Asian fellows was higher [AE ratio, 95% CI 2.17 (1.47–3.21)]. Female fellows’ representation was lower than expected [AE ratio, 95% CI 0.68 (0.48–0.96)] compared to their distribution among US OBGYN residents.

Compared to the general US population, White fellows [AE ratio, 95% CI 0.65 (0.48–0.87)] and Hispanic fellows [AE ratio, 95% CI 0.53 (0.34–0.83)] representation was lower. Asian fellows’ representation was higher compared to the general US population [AE ratio, 95% CI 5.87 (3.48–9.88)].

Conclusion

White and Hispanic fellows’ representation was lower than expected, while Asian fellows’ representation was higher in AAGL-accredited FMIGS programs. Female representation increased throughout the years, but overall, female fellows’ representation was lower than expected compared to their distribution among OBGYN residents. These findings may help develop equitable recruitment strategies for FMIGS programs and reduce health disparities within complex gynecology.