To compare the current representation of women and underrepresented minorities in medicine (URM) of the urologic resident workforce to the general U.S.
Data on current gender and racial distribution of U.S. urology residents was obtained from the 2019-2020 ACGME Data Resource Book and compared to the projected 2019 U.S. population as reported in the U.S. Census data. In this study, URM status included Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Alaskan, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and Other. For each gender and race/ethnicity, the percent differences in representation were calculated by subtracting the frequency in the general U.S. population from that of the urology resident workforce and two sample z-tests were performed.
1734 urology residents were identified in 2019-2020, of which 471 (27.2%) were female and 258 (14.9%) were URM. Two sample z-tests revealed a significantly lower representation in urologic residency programs for women (-23.6%, p-value < 0.05) and URMs (-19.1%, p-value < 0.05). Race/ethnicity subgroup analyses revealed underrepresentation of Black/African American (-9.7%, p-value < 0.05), Hispanic/Latino (-14.2%, p-value < 0.05), Native American/Alaskan (-1.1%, p-value < 0.05).
Women and URMs continue to be significantly underrepresented in urology residency relative to the general U.S.
Further study should better understand barriers to entering the urologic workforce and identify strategies to encourage interest in urology among female and URM prospective trainees.
Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.
