Trends in Gender, Race, and Ethnic Diversity Among Prospective Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians.

INTRODUCTION: As we see the proportion of women and individuals who are underrepresented in medicine slowly rising, disparities persist in numerous arenas and specialties. In Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), there is a continued need to focus on diversity amongst trainees. This study aims to evaluate diversity amongst PM&R applicants and residents over the past six years.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the demographic trends in PM&R over the last six years and compare those trends to other specialties.

DESIGN: Surveillance SETTING: Analyses of national databases from self-reported questionnaires.

PARTICIPANTS: The study consists of 126,833 medical school matriculants, 374,185 resident applicants, and 326,134 resident trainees over the last six years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported demographic data from the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education were analyzed for medical school matriculants, PM&R applicants, and current residents for the cycles of 2014-2015 to 2019-2020. The data was then comparatively reviewed between PM&R and other medical specialties.

RESULTS: In the six cycles evaluated, women accounted for 36-39% of PM&R residents, but 47-48% in non-PM&R specialties. Women applicants to the PM&R specialty averaged 34.4% over the six years analyzed which was the fourth lowest of the 11 specialties examined. Black or African American and Hispanic, Latino or of Spanish Origin populations each accounted for only 6% of PM&R residents. PM&R demonstrated a noticeably higher proportion of White (62.1% vs 60.3%) and an observably lower proportion of Black or African American (6.0% vs 7.1%) and Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin (6.3% vs 7.9%) residents compared to Non-PM&R specialties.

CONCLUSION: There is underrepresentation of women and multiple racial and ethnic minority groups in the field of PM&R from applicants to trainees demonstrating a need to improve recruitment efforts.