Gender alone may not be a significant predictor of endowed chair status after accounting for other factors, but women in ophthalmology are less likely to hold endowed chairs because they are underrepresented in the roles and qualifications most associated with these prestigious positions, according to a study.
Researchers analyzed data from 41 leading ophthalmology programs, identifying over 2,200 faculty members. Of the 246 faculty who held endowed chair positions, only 24% were women, even though women made up 38% of the total ophthalmology workforce.
Initial analysis showed that being male, holding multiple academic titles, being based in the South, having a PhD, full professor status, and specializing in retina or uveitis were all significantly linked to greater odds of holding an endowed chair. However, after adjusting for all other factors, gender alone was no longer a statistically significant predictor.
The authors conclude that addressing these disparities may require broader efforts to support women’s advancement into senior academic roles.
Reference
Choi A, Haystead A, Thompson C, et al. Characteristics Associated With Endowed Chair Titles Among U.S. Academic Ophthalmologists. Cureus. 2025;17(6):e85716. doi: 10.7759/cureus.85716. PMID: 40642663; PMCID: PMC12244438.
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