Journal
OTOLARYNGOLOGY-HEAD AND NECK SURGERY
Volume 166, Issue 6, Pages 1161-1165Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1177/01945998221076835
Keywords
minority representation; education; racial and ethnic diversity; medical students; surgical subspecialty; otolaryngology residency; underrepresented in medicine
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The field of otolaryngology has a low racial and ethnic diversity, potentially due to lack of same-race mentors and home otolaryngology programs, as well as factors like competitiveness, inadequate exposure, research, and high board scores needed to match.
The field of otolaryngology has one of the lowest rates of racial and ethnic diversity. An anonymous survey was distributed to members of the Student National Medical Association at different medical schools to identify factors that may contribute to this disparity. Responses were received from 104 students at 36 allopathic medical schools. Most respondents identified as black (86.5%). One-third of students (34.6%) noted that they were discouraged from pursuing otolaryngology due to lack of mentorship, and among these students, most noted that they lack mentors of the same race (75%). One-fourth of respondents (25%) indicated that they lack a home otolaryngology program. The most common reasons for participants' disinterest in otolaryngology included competitiveness, inadequate exposure, research, and the high board scores needed to match. This hypothesis-generating, proof-of-concept study highlights potential barriers that may discourage underrepresented medical students from pursuing a career in otolaryngology.
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