Abstract:

Introduction: Dermatopathology fellowship directors (FDs) hold significant influence over the future directions of the field. This study uses objective data to characterize the demographics and academic backgrounds of these leaders. This can serve as a roadmap for aspiring academics and can be compared to earlier demographic analyses to see whether progress has been made to diversify the field. Methods: A list of accredited dermatopathology fellowships was compiled using the ACGME database (n=57). Demographics and educational background were obtained via public biographies, Healthgrades® profiles, and an emailed survey. Markers of academic achievement were obtained from Scopus. Results: Data collected on 57 dermatopathology FDs reveal an average age of 55.68 years. FDs are 59.65% male and 40.35% female. The average H-index, number of publications, and number of citations are 20.88, 106.21, and 2739.11, respectively. The mean year of graduation was 2001 from residency (n=55) and 2003 from fellowship (n=53). The mean duration an FD has held their position is 13 years (n=37). The most frequently attended institutions were the University of Rochester (n=4) for residency and New York University (n=6) for fellowship. 40.00% of FDs trained at the same institution for both residency and fellowship. 36.67% work where they attended residency, 31.67% where they attended fellowship, and 5.00% where they attended both residency and fellowship. Survey results regarding ethnicity, society membership, and journal editorial positions are pending. Conclusions: This study provides insight into the demographics and academic careers of US dermatopathology FDs. FDs demonstrate high levels of research achievement and significant institutional loyalty. An increase in the number of female FDs over the past 5 years may signify that medical leadership is diversifying. Continued research in this topic can identify further areas of improvement and facilitate development of mentorship programs.

Financial Disclosure:
No current or relevant financial relationships exist.

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Tara Samra, BA