Are Women Underrepresented in Ophthalmology Leadership Positions?

This study examined the 20 highest ranking ophthalmology journals and the top 15 influential ophthalmology societies and identified the 2018 board members for each (N = 1077). The sex of each individual board member was recorded.

Men made up 74% of ophthalmic journal editorial and society boards and accounted for 96% and 87% of editors in chief and professional society presidents, respectively.

In a separate invited commentary article, titled “Sex Diversity in Ophthalmology Leadership in 2020—A Call for Action,” Kathryn Colby, MD, PhD, department of ophthalmology and visual science, The University of Chicago, Chicago, said that the percentage of female members of society and editorial boards is in-line with the percentage of practicing ophthalmologists in the United States but the overwhelming majority of men in leadership positions is potentially concerning.

“Only 2 of 15 society presidents (13.3%) were women in 2018, and only 1 of the 20 journals (4.2%) included had a female editor in chief during the time of this study. Granted, these data might change, depending on the societies included and the year the data were acquired, but still, it is clear that there is room for improvement,” she wrote.

Reference

Camacci ML, Lu A, Lehman EB, et al. Association between sex composition and publication productivity of journal editorial and professional society board members in ophthalmology. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online March 26, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.0164

Colby K. Sex diversity in ophthalmology leadership in 2020—A call for action. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online March 26, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.0188