Gender Compensation Gap for Ophthalmologists in the First Year of Clinical Practice

Jing Sasha Jia; Alexander Lazzaro; Alcina K. Lidder; Ceyhun Elgin; Jennifer Alcantara-Castillo; Steven J. Gedde; Albert S. Khouri; Aakriti Garg Shukla; Laurence T.D. Sperber; Janice C. Law; Yasha S. Modi; Eleanore T. Kim; Jeffrey R. SooHoo; Bryan J. Winn; Royce W. Chen; Lama A. Al-Aswad

doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.11.022

Gender Compensation Gap for Ophthalmologists in the First Year of Clinical Practice

Jing Sasha Jia, Alexander Lazzaro, Alcina K. Lidder, Ceyhun Elgin, Jennifer Alcantara-Castillo, Steven J. Gedde, Albert S. Khouri, Aakriti Garg Shukla, Laurence T.D. Sperber, Janice C. Law, Yasha S. Modi, Eleanore T. Kim, Jeffrey R. SooHoo, Bryan J. Winn, Royce W. Chen, Lama A. Al-Aswad^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Ophthalmology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the role of gender and other factors in influencing ophthalmologists’ compensation. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: U.S. practicing ophthalmologists. Methods: Between January and March 2020, an anonymous survey was sent to U.S. residency program directors and practicing ophthalmologists who recently completed residency training. Respondents who completed residency ≤ 10 years ago and responded to questions about gender, fellowship training, state of practice, and salary were included. Propensity score match (PSM) analysis was performed with age, academic residency, top residency, fellowship, state median wage, practice type, ethnicity, and number of workdays. Multivariate linear regression (MLR) analysis controlled for additional factors along with the aforementioned variables. Main Outcome Measures: Base starting salary with bonus (SWB) received in the first year of clinical position was the main outcome measure. A multiplier of 1.2 (20%) was added to the base salary to account for bonus. Results: Of 684 respondents, 384 (56% were female, 44% were male) from 68 programs were included. Female ophthalmologists received a mean initial SWB that was $33 139.80 less than that of their male colleagues (12.5%, P = 0.00). The PSM analysis showed an SWB difference of −$27 273.89 (10.3% gap, P = 0.0015). Additionally, SWB differences were calculated with the number of workdays substituted by operating room (OR) days (−$27 793.67 [10.5% gap, P = 0.0013]) and clinic days (−$23 597.57 [8.90% gap, P = 0.0064]) in separate PSM analyses. The SWB differences between genders were significant using MLR analyses, which also controlled for work, clinic, and OR days separately (−$22 261.49, $−18 604.65, and $−16 191.26, respectively; P = 0.017, P = 0.015, P = 0.002, respectively). Gender independently predicted income in all 3 analyses (P < 0.05). Although an association between gender and the attempt to negotiate was not detected, a greater portion of men subjectively reported success in negotiation (P = 0.03). Conclusions: Female ophthalmologists earn significantly less than their male colleagues in the first year of clinical practice. Salary differences persist after controlling for demographic, educational, and practice type variables with MLR and PSM analyses. These income differences may lead to a substantial loss of accumulated earnings over an individual's career.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	971-980
Number of pages	10
Journal	Ophthalmology
Volume	128
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.11.022
State	Published - Jul 2021

Funding

A.S.K.: Consultant – Glaukos; Grants – Allergan, NJ Health Foundation; Payment for lectures –Allergan, Aerie, B&L.B.J.W.: Grants – Irving Institute/Columbia University.HUMAN SUBJECTS: Human subjects were included in this study. The human ethics committees at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine approved the study. Waiver of informed consent was granted by the New York University Grossman School of Medicine for the use of de-identified data All research adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. No animal subjects were used in this study. A.G.S.: Grant – Allergan. Obtained funding: N/A

Keywords

Gender
disparity
gap
income

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ophthalmology

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10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.11.022

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Jia, J. S., Lazzaro, A., Lidder, A. K., Elgin, C., Alcantara-Castillo, J., Gedde, S. J., Khouri, A. S., Garg Shukla, A., Sperber, L. T. D., Law, J. C., Modi, Y. S., Kim, E. T., SooHoo, J. R., Winn, B. J., Chen, R. W., & Al-Aswad, L. A. (2021). Gender Compensation Gap for Ophthalmologists in the First Year of Clinical Practice. Ophthalmology, 128(7), 971-980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.11.022

@article{e526cf30e5ce4f0290166d108c9c6273,

title = "Gender Compensation Gap for Ophthalmologists in the First Year of Clinical Practice",

abstract = "Purpose: To identify the role of gender and other factors in influencing ophthalmologists{\textquoteright} compensation. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: U.S. practicing ophthalmologists. Methods: Between January and March 2020, an anonymous survey was sent to U.S. residency program directors and practicing ophthalmologists who recently completed residency training. Respondents who completed residency ≤ 10 years ago and responded to questions about gender, fellowship training, state of practice, and salary were included. Propensity score match (PSM) analysis was performed with age, academic residency, top residency, fellowship, state median wage, practice type, ethnicity, and number of workdays. Multivariate linear regression (MLR) analysis controlled for additional factors along with the aforementioned variables. Main Outcome Measures: Base starting salary with bonus (SWB) received in the first year of clinical position was the main outcome measure. A multiplier of 1.2 (20%) was added to the base salary to account for bonus. Results: Of 684 respondents, 384 (56% were female, 44% were male) from 68 programs were included. Female ophthalmologists received a mean initial SWB that was $33 139.80 less than that of their male colleagues (12.5%, P = 0.00). The PSM analysis showed an SWB difference of −$27 273.89 (10.3% gap, P = 0.0015). Additionally, SWB differences were calculated with the number of workdays substituted by operating room (OR) days (−$27 793.67 [10.5% gap, P = 0.0013]) and clinic days (−$23 597.57 [8.90% gap, P = 0.0064]) in separate PSM analyses. The SWB differences between genders were significant using MLR analyses, which also controlled for work, clinic, and OR days separately (−$22 261.49, $−18 604.65, and $−16 191.26, respectively; P = 0.017, P = 0.015, P = 0.002, respectively). Gender independently predicted income in all 3 analyses (P < 0.05). Although an association between gender and the attempt to negotiate was not detected, a greater portion of men subjectively reported success in negotiation (P = 0.03). Conclusions: Female ophthalmologists earn significantly less than their male colleagues in the first year of clinical practice. Salary differences persist after controlling for demographic, educational, and practice type variables with MLR and PSM analyses. These income differences may lead to a substantial loss of accumulated earnings over an individual's career.",

keywords = "Gender, disparity, gap, income",

author = "Jia, {Jing Sasha} and Alexander Lazzaro and Lidder, {Alcina K.} and Ceyhun Elgin and Jennifer Alcantara-Castillo and Gedde, {Steven J.} and Khouri, {Albert S.} and {Garg Shukla}, Aakriti and Sperber, {Laurence T.D.} and Law, {Janice C.} and Modi, {Yasha S.} and Kim, {Eleanore T.} and SooHoo, {Jeffrey R.} and Winn, {Bryan J.} and Chen, {Royce W.} and Al-Aswad, {Lama A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 American Academy of Ophthalmology",

year = "2021",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.11.022",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "128",

pages = "971--980",

journal = "Ophthalmology",

issn = "0161-6420",

publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",

number = "7",

}

Jia, JS, Lazzaro, A, Lidder, AK, Elgin, C, Alcantara-Castillo, J, Gedde, SJ, Khouri, AS, Garg Shukla, A, Sperber, LTD, Law, JC, Modi, YS, Kim, ET, SooHoo, JR, Winn, BJ, Chen, RW & Al-Aswad, LA 2021, 'Gender Compensation Gap for Ophthalmologists in the First Year of Clinical Practice', Ophthalmology, vol. 128, no. 7, pp. 971-980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.11.022

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gender Compensation Gap for Ophthalmologists in the First Year of Clinical Practice

AU - Jia, Jing Sasha

AU - Lazzaro, Alexander

AU - Lidder, Alcina K.

AU - Elgin, Ceyhun

AU - Alcantara-Castillo, Jennifer

AU - Gedde, Steven J.

AU - Khouri, Albert S.

AU - Garg Shukla, Aakriti

AU - Sperber, Laurence T.D.

AU - Law, Janice C.

AU - Modi, Yasha S.

AU - Kim, Eleanore T.

AU - SooHoo, Jeffrey R.

AU - Winn, Bryan J.

AU - Chen, Royce W.

AU - Al-Aswad, Lama A.

PY - 2021/7

Y1 - 2021/7

N2 - Purpose: To identify the role of gender and other factors in influencing ophthalmologists’ compensation. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: U.S. practicing ophthalmologists. Methods: Between January and March 2020, an anonymous survey was sent to U.S. residency program directors and practicing ophthalmologists who recently completed residency training. Respondents who completed residency ≤ 10 years ago and responded to questions about gender, fellowship training, state of practice, and salary were included. Propensity score match (PSM) analysis was performed with age, academic residency, top residency, fellowship, state median wage, practice type, ethnicity, and number of workdays. Multivariate linear regression (MLR) analysis controlled for additional factors along with the aforementioned variables. Main Outcome Measures: Base starting salary with bonus (SWB) received in the first year of clinical position was the main outcome measure. A multiplier of 1.2 (20%) was added to the base salary to account for bonus. Results: Of 684 respondents, 384 (56% were female, 44% were male) from 68 programs were included. Female ophthalmologists received a mean initial SWB that was $33 139.80 less than that of their male colleagues (12.5%, P = 0.00). The PSM analysis showed an SWB difference of −$27 273.89 (10.3% gap, P = 0.0015). Additionally, SWB differences were calculated with the number of workdays substituted by operating room (OR) days (−$27 793.67 [10.5% gap, P = 0.0013]) and clinic days (−$23 597.57 [8.90% gap, P = 0.0064]) in separate PSM analyses. The SWB differences between genders were significant using MLR analyses, which also controlled for work, clinic, and OR days separately (−$22 261.49, $−18 604.65, and $−16 191.26, respectively; P = 0.017, P = 0.015, P = 0.002, respectively). Gender independently predicted income in all 3 analyses (P < 0.05). Although an association between gender and the attempt to negotiate was not detected, a greater portion of men subjectively reported success in negotiation (P = 0.03). Conclusions: Female ophthalmologists earn significantly less than their male colleagues in the first year of clinical practice. Salary differences persist after controlling for demographic, educational, and practice type variables with MLR and PSM analyses. These income differences may lead to a substantial loss of accumulated earnings over an individual's career.

AB - Purpose: To identify the role of gender and other factors in influencing ophthalmologists’ compensation. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: U.S. practicing ophthalmologists. Methods: Between January and March 2020, an anonymous survey was sent to U.S. residency program directors and practicing ophthalmologists who recently completed residency training. Respondents who completed residency ≤ 10 years ago and responded to questions about gender, fellowship training, state of practice, and salary were included. Propensity score match (PSM) analysis was performed with age, academic residency, top residency, fellowship, state median wage, practice type, ethnicity, and number of workdays. Multivariate linear regression (MLR) analysis controlled for additional factors along with the aforementioned variables. Main Outcome Measures: Base starting salary with bonus (SWB) received in the first year of clinical position was the main outcome measure. A multiplier of 1.2 (20%) was added to the base salary to account for bonus. Results: Of 684 respondents, 384 (56% were female, 44% were male) from 68 programs were included. Female ophthalmologists received a mean initial SWB that was $33 139.80 less than that of their male colleagues (12.5%, P = 0.00). The PSM analysis showed an SWB difference of −$27 273.89 (10.3% gap, P = 0.0015). Additionally, SWB differences were calculated with the number of workdays substituted by operating room (OR) days (−$27 793.67 [10.5% gap, P = 0.0013]) and clinic days (−$23 597.57 [8.90% gap, P = 0.0064]) in separate PSM analyses. The SWB differences between genders were significant using MLR analyses, which also controlled for work, clinic, and OR days separately (−$22 261.49, $−18 604.65, and $−16 191.26, respectively; P = 0.017, P = 0.015, P = 0.002, respectively). Gender independently predicted income in all 3 analyses (P < 0.05). Although an association between gender and the attempt to negotiate was not detected, a greater portion of men subjectively reported success in negotiation (P = 0.03). Conclusions: Female ophthalmologists earn significantly less than their male colleagues in the first year of clinical practice. Salary differences persist after controlling for demographic, educational, and practice type variables with MLR and PSM analyses. These income differences may lead to a substantial loss of accumulated earnings over an individual's career.

KW - Gender

KW - disparity

KW - gap

KW - income

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Gender Compensation Gap for Ophthalmologists in the First Year of Clinical Practice

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