Racial and Ethnic Disparities Among Burn Surgery Leadership

BACKGROUND: The underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minority groups has been well documented in general and plastic surgery but not in burn surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate current minority group disparities among burn surgery leadership. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed. Burn surgeons included were directors of American Burn Association-verified burn centers in the US, past and current presidents of the American Burn Association, and editorial board members of five major burn journals (Journal of Burn Care & Research, Burns, Burns & Trauma, Annals of Burns & Fire Disasters, and the International Journal of Burns and Trauma). Surgeons were compared based on factors including age, gender, training, academic rank, and h-index. RESULTS: Among 71 burn center directors, 50 societal presidents, and 197 journal editors, minority groups represented 18.3, 2.0, and 34.5 percent, respectively. Among burn center directors, the group classified collectively as non-white was significantly younger (49 vs. 56; p < 0.01), graduated more recently (2003 vs. 1996; p < 0.01), and had a lower h-index (9.5 vs. 17.4; p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in gender, type of residency training, advanced degrees obtained, fellowships, academic rank, and academic leadership positions between white and non-white groups. When compared to the 2018 US National Census, burn unit directors had a 5.1 percent decrease in non-white representation. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities in representation of ethnic and racial minorities exist in burn surgery despite having similar qualifying factors.