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Training and Education

Prevalence of Diversity Statements and Disability Inclusion Among Radiology Residency Program Websites

Saturday, May 6, 2023

    First Author(s)

  • ZD

    Zainub Dhanani, MS

    Medical Student
    Stanford University School of Medicine
    Stanford, California, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • FD

    Florence X. Doo, MD

    Chief Fellow, Body Imaging
    Stanford University
    Palo Alto, California, United States

  • LS

    Lucy B. Spalluto, MD MPH

    Vice Chair of Health Equity
    Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Radiology
    Nashville, Tennessee, United States

  • JY

    Judy Yee, MD

    Chair of Radiology
    Montefiore Medical Center, United States

  • Efrén J. Flores, MD

    Radiologist / Officer, Radiology Community Health & Equity
    Massachusetts General Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

  • CM

    Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD

    Dean
    Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California
    Los Angeles, California, United States

  • NK

    Nolan Kagetsu, MD

    Professor, Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology
    Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States

  • PP

    Peter Poullos, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Radiology
    Stanford University School of Medicine, United States

Purpose: Radiology has widely acknowledged the need to improve inclusion of racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities, with recent discourse also underscoring the importance of disability inclusion. Yet, studies have shown a paucity of diversity among radiology residents despite increasing efforts to foster diversity and inclusion. Thus, the purpose of this study is to assess radiology residency websites for diversity statements including race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability as valued attributes.

Methods/Materials: A cross-sectional, observational study of all diagnostic radiology programs in the ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service®) directory was conducted. Program websites that met inclusion criteria were audited for inclusion of a diversity statement, if the statement was specific to the residency program, radiology department, or institution, and if it was linked on the program or department website. All statements were evaluated for inclusion of four diversity criteria: race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.

Results: 192 radiology residencies were identified using ERAS. Programs with missing/malfunctioning hyperlinks (N=33) or required logins (N=1) were excluded. 158 program websites met inclusion criteria for analysis. Two-thirds (n=103; 65.1%) had a diversity statement either within their department or institution, 28 (18%) had residency-specific statements and 22 (14%) had department-specific statements. Among these, gender diversity was most frequently represented (43.0%), followed by race/ethnicity (39.9%), sexual orientation (32.9%), and disability (25.3%). Race/ethnicity was most-included in institution-level diversity statements.

Conclusions: Less than 20% of radiology residency websites include a diversity statement and disability is the least-included category among the diversity statements. As radiology continues to lead diversity and inclusion efforts in healthcare, a more comprehensive approach with equitable representation of different groups, including those with disabilities, would foster a broader sense of belonging and serve an essential role in overcoming systemic barriers and bridging gaps in disability representation in healthcare.