Khullar K, Deek R, Nelson B, Gaines DK, Corrigan KL, LeCompte MC, Deville C, Deek MP, Jabbour SK. Gender and the Receipt of the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology (ARRO) Educator of the Year Award.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023;
117:e29. [PMID:
37785072 DOI:
10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.06.712]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)
Despite an increase in female physicians in recent years, a gender disparity remains in the field of radiation oncology. We hypothesized that there may be a gender disparity in the receipt of ARRO educator awards.
MATERIALS/METHODS
Using a database provided by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), annual award recipients were identified from 2010-2022. Data on Academic Institution, Year of Award, and Repeat Awardee Status were obtained through the ASTRO database. Publicly available websites were accessed to obtain data regarding gender, years post residency graduation, percent female/male faculty, size of residency program, and program director designation. H- indices were obtained from Scopus and used as a marker of academic productivity. Basic summary statistics, stratified by gender, were calculated for award year, years since graduation, percent of male faculty, and program size. A one-sample Z-test for proportions was utilized to assess if the proportion of female ARRO award winners each year from 2010 to 2022 was significantly less than the population average, defined as the proportion of female radiation oncology faculty members in the nominating universities that year. Secondary analyses used univariable binary logistic regression to identify any global associations between gender, year since gradation, or program size.
RESULTS
The lowest proportion of female awardees occurred in 2013 (8 [14.3%] females vs. 48 [85.7%] males) and the greatest proportion of female awardees occurred in 2022 (19 [30.6%] females vs. 43 [69.4%] males). As compared to the proportion of female faculty members in nominating programs for that respective year, there were significantly fewer female awardees in the years of 2010 (18% female awardees vs. 32% female faculty members, p = 0.02) and 2013 (14% female awardees vs. 31% female faculty members, p = 0.01). There was a statistically significant rise in female awardees over the study period (p<0.01). On logistic regression analysis, large program size (10+ residents) (odds ratio [OR]: 6.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.71-23.1, p<0.001) and medium program size (5-9 residents) (OR: 4.05, 95% CI: 1.60-13.7, p<0.001) were associated with a greater proportion of female awardees as compared to small program size (1-4 residents). There was no association between awardee gender and years since graduation.
CONCLUSION
A gender disparity is present in the receipt of ARRO Educator Awards. At an institutional level, residency Chiefs, Program Directors, and Chairs should work to ensure that a diverse slate of faculty are considered annually for the ARRO Educator Award with self-assessment of awardees over time to ensure demographic representation and inclusion. Efforts should also be made to recognize biases in resident evaluations of faculty with continued education about inherent biases.
Collapse