Graduates-of-foreign-dermatology residencies and military dermatology residencies and women in academic dermatology.

BACKGROUND

It is well known that there is a growing shortage of academic dermatologists in the U.S. The number of graduates of foreign dermatology residencies (GFDR) and graduates of military dermatology residencies (GMDR) who take full-time academic dermatology positions are currently unknown. It is likely that a higher proportion of GFDRs and GMDRs are more likely to enter academics and practice medical dermatology. The percentage of women in academic dermatology has not been reported since 1994.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the total number of GFDRs, GMDRs, and women who are full-time faculty members at U.S. dermatology residency programs.

METHODS

The educational background of all full-time faculty members of the 107 U.S. dermatology residency programs that were active as of December 2004 were determined through extensive Internet searches, telephone, and email correspondences with residency coordinators and faculty members. Pure PhDs, physicians who did not complete a dermatology residency program at an allopathic school, PharmDs, DDSs, and FNPs were excluded. The University of Puerto Rico was not considered a foreign residency program.

RESULTS

As of December 2004, there were 988 full-time dermatology faculty members in the US, 813 of which met our inclusion criteria. There were 30 GFDRs, accounting for 3.7 percent of full-time academic dermatologists. There were 29 GMDRs, accounting for 3.6 percent of all full-time academic dermatologists. Women accounted for 44.42 percent of academic dermatologists and 15.9 percent (14/107) of dermatology chairs/chiefs.

CONCLUSION

GFDRs, GMDRs, and women comprise important proportions of full-time faculty members at U.S. dermatology residency programs.