Different strategies may be needed to address the continuing lack of diversity in cardiology for underrepresented minority individuals and women, according to a study published Sept. 11 in JAMA Cardiology.

Laxmi S. Mehta, MD, FACC, et al., examined the current sex and race/ethnicity demographics within the U.S. cardiology physician workforce, as well as proportional changes from 2006 through 2016 for adult and pediatric cardiology. This cross-sectional study used data from the Association of American Medical Colleges, American Medical Association and American Board of Internal Medicine to stratify medical students, resident physicians, fellows and cardiologists.

Results showed that despite a high percentage of female internal medicine resident physicians (42.6 percent), female physicians were underrepresented in adult general cardiology fellowships (21.5 percent) and procedural subspecialty fellowships (interventional cardiology, 9.8 percent; electrophysiology, 13.7 percent). They also found that while the percentage of female adult cardiologists slightly increased from 2006 through 2016 (from 8.9 percent to 12.6 percent), it remained low.

Furthermore, the authors found an increase in female pediatric cardiology fellows (from 40.4 percent to 50.5 percent), resulting in an increased percentage of female pediatric cardiologists (from 27.1 percent to 34.0 percent). However, the percentages of members of underrepresented minority groups in adult and pediatric cardiology fellowships were low and increased only slightly overtime. The findings also confirmed that members of underrepresented minorities made up less than 8 percent of practicing adult and pediatric cardiologists.

"Currently, ACC's Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion has a multipronged approach that includes efforts to engage and leverage diverse talent via strategies affecting the deep pipeline, recruitment, retention and leadership to help create a culture of inclusion within the field of cardiology," the authors write. "Efforts to improve the culture, increase mentorship and promote work-life balance may help attract a more diverse group of individuals to pursue training in cardiology."

Clinical Topics: Arrhythmias and Clinical EP, Implantable Devices, SCD/Ventricular Arrhythmias, Atrial Fibrillation/Supraventricular Arrhythmias

Keywords: Fellowships and Scholarships, Minority Groups, Students, Medical, Leadership, Mentors, Cross-Sectional Studies, Work-Life Balance, Internal Medicine, Electrophysiology

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