Abstract
Introduction: The term healthcare disparity describes differences in access to medical care between population groups. Minimizing the care gap and improving access to care for historically minoritized populations will require a multifaceted approach. Increasing diversity in the healthcare workforce has the potential to lead to significant improvements aimed at minimizing inequity. Fellowship training programs in Gynecologic Oncology serve as the gatekeeper for the workforce of Gynecologic Oncologists. Efforts at improving diversity at the fellowship level are necessary to increase the diversity of practicing physicians. The objective of this study is to assess Gynecologic Oncology fellowship websites for information emphasizing a commitment to diversity and inclusion in hiring practices and identify opportunities for improvement. Methods: All ACGME- (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education) accredited Gynecologic Oncology programs in the United States were included in this study (n=64). The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) website was used to locate 64 fellowship websites. Two reviewers searched 64 websites to assess for program criteria relating to program description, addressing healthcare disparities, fellow/faculty/alumni information, and inclusion of diversity and inclusion statement in hiring practices. Results: All 64 Gynecologic Oncology programs included in the study had a fellowship program website, and all websites (100%, n=64) included content regarding program overview or description. 40% (n=26) of programs met criteria for inclusion of a diversity statement. 63% of programs (n=40) included a statement on their website addressing healthcare disparities which impact the unique populations served by their institution. Faculty information (81%) was more commonly included on websites than fellow (77%) or alumni (41%) information. Discussion: Increasing diversity in the healthcare workforce requires intentional and ongoing systematic effort. This study analyzed the current state of diversity-oriented recruitment efforts in Gynecologic Oncology fellowship programs to highlight areas where individual programs could improve their diversity and inclusiveness.
Recommended Citation
Raju P, Lalovic T, Lalovic A. Opportunity for Increasing Applicant Diversity in Gynecologic Oncology Fellowships. Transformative Medicine. 2025; 4(4):51-53. doi: https://doi.org/10.54299/tmed/npug6911.