R.A. Collins1, N.B. Verhagen2, C.L. Mullens3,4, J.B. Dimick3,4 1Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School Of Medicine, Lubbock, TEXAS, USA 2Medical College Of Wisconsin, School Of Medicine, Milwaukee, WI, USA 3University Of Michigan, Department Of Surgery, Ann Arbor, MI, USA 4University Of Michigan, Center For Healthcare Outcomes And Policy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Introduction:
High-performing surgical teams are characterized by diverse abilities, backgrounds, thoughts, and identities. Despite these recognized benefits, leadership in academic surgery has historically been dominated by individuals from a select number of training institutions. This study aimed to assess trends in the institutional training backgrounds of leaders in academic surgery over the last four decades.
Methods:
This retrospective review examines the institutional training backgrounds of presidents from nine major surgical societies from 1980 to 2023. Surgical societies included in this study were the American College of Surgeons, American Surgical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Society of University Surgeons, New England Surgical Society, Central Surgical Society, Pacific Coast Surgical Association, Southern Surgical Association, and Western Surgical Association. Medical school and residency information for each president were collected from society websites, institutional websites, and online obituaries. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Trends in the number of unique institutions represented in society leadership were assessed across four 10-year periods (1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2009, 2010-2019).
Results:
A total of 396 presidents were recorded over the 44-year study period. A total of 102 unique medical schools were identified. The most frequently attended were Harvard (9.6%), Johns Hopkins (7.3%) and Northwestern (3.8%). The top 10 attended medical schools represented 41% of society presidents. Of the 90 presidents evaluated during each decade, there were 42 unique medical schools represented from 1980-1989, 41 represented from 1990-1999, 50 represented from 2000-2009, and 55 represented from 2010-2019. A total of 98 unique surgery residency programs were identified. The most frequently attended were Johns Hopkins (6.8%), the University of California San Francisco (5.6%), and Massachusetts General Hospital (4.8%). The top 10 most attended residency programs represented 45% of society presidents. There were 44 residency programs represented from 1980-1989, 44 from 1990-1999, 48 from 2000-2009, and 29 from 2010-2019.
Conclusion:
For the past forty years, leaders of academic surgical societies have predominantly trained at select medical schools and residency programs, with little variation over time. This is despite substantial initiatives to improve diversity in academic surgery over the last two decades. Concerted efforts to engage trainees in surgical societies early in their careers and foster cross-institutional mentorship may help promote more diverse leadership in academic surgery.