Abstract
Purpose of reviewThis review explores trends in the United States (US) transplant surgery workforce with a focus on historical demographics, post-fellowship job market, and quality of life reported by transplant surgeons. Ongoing efforts to improve women and racial/ethnic minority representation in transplant surgery are highlighted. Future directions to create a transplant workforce that reflects the diversity of the US population are discussed.Recent findingsRepresentation of women and racial and ethnic minorities among transplant surgeons is minimal. Although recent data shows an improvement in the number of Black transplant surgeons from 2% to 5.5% and an increase in women to 12%, the White to Non-White transplant workforce ratio has increased 35% from 2000 to 2013. Transplant surgeons report an average of 4.3 call nights per week and less than five leisure days a month. Transplant ranks 1st among surgical sub-specialties in the prevalence of three well-studied facets of burnout. Concerns about lifestyle may contribute to the decreasing demand for advanced training in abdominal transplantation by US graduates.SummaryMinimal improvements have been made in transplant surgery workforce diversity. Sustained and intentional recruitment and promotion efforts are needed to improve the representation of women and minority physicians and advanced practice providers in the field.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 560-566 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Current opinion in organ transplantation |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 2021 |
Funding
V.S.M.V. is supported by the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation Clinician Scholars Program and the National Institutes of Health (5T32HS000053–29). T.S.P. is supported, in part, by grant K01HS024600 from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The AHRQ had no role in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript or the decision to submit for publication. T.S.P. is the Chair of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. P.N.M. is the chair for UNOS/OPTN Minority Affairs Committee and co-chairs the ASTS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. D.C.S. is the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisor to the Executive Council of the ASTS, and the chair of the ASTS Boldly Against Racism Task Force.
Keywords
- burnout
- diversity
- gender parity
- job market
- transplant surgery
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Transplantation
- Immunology and Allergy