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Scientific Oral Presentations

Professional and Personal Development

Session: Scientific Oral Presentations - Personal and Professional Development

New Faces on Editorial Boards: Analyzing Qualifications and Turnover of Otolaryngology Editorial Boards Between 2018–2023

Monday, September 30, 2024
10:18 AM – 10:24 AM EDT
Location: MBCC, 214-215
Disclosure(s):
Kevin W. Herrera, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Neil U. Parikh, BA, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Benjamin H. Tam, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Varied editorial boards publish diverse research and reduce implicit bias in publishing, yet editorial boards remain largely homogenous. The availability of editorial board positions and qualifications of editorial board members (EBMs), which may affect opportunities for diversification, remain understudied.

Methods: Demographic data were collected from thirteen otolaryngology journals with data from at least 2018 and 5-year impact factor > 2.0. Data included editorial board position, year of membership, gender, race, degree, and US residency graduation year (if applicable). Years in practice (YIP) were calculated as current year (2023) minus residency graduation year. When analyzing degree distribution and YIP, duplicate individuals were removed. Annual turnover was calculated by assessing new EBMs per year. Aggregate editorial board size and turnover were weight-adjusted by years of available data per journal. Pooled t-tests assessed statistical significance of YIP by gender and race.

Results: Of the 1,028 unique individuals, 802 (78.0%) were MDs, 188 (18.3%) were PhDs, 70 (6.8%) had an “Other” degree, and 7 (0.7%) were DOs. Also, 566 EBMs were US residency graduates and had a median 23 YIP. Males (n = 428) had median 25 YIP compared to females’ (n = 138) median 18 YIP (p < 0.0001). White EBMs had median 26 YIP compared to non-White EBMs’ 19 YIP (p < 0.0001). The adjusted mean editorial board size and annual turnover were 44.8 EBMs and 3.8 EBMs (8.5%) respectively. For mid-level EBMs (associate, section, assistant, and deputy editors), adjusted mean group size and annual turnover were 8.0 EBMs and 0.9 EBMs (11.6%) respectively.

Conclusions: EBMs were most commonly White, male, MDs with 25+ YIP. Assuming only 8.5% of all EBMs turnover annually, a journal's entire editorial board would turnover after 12 years representing high barriers to entry for diverse EBMs at top otolaryngology journals. Despite DOs comprising 4.1% of otolaryngologists nationally, there were next to no DO EBMs. Reassuringly, the lower median YIP for females and non-White EBMs may indicate that the editorial boards will diversify as younger EBMs mature.

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Kevin W. Herrera, BS

    Medical Student
    Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
    Los Angeles, CA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • NP

    Neil U. Parikh, BA, BS

    Medical Student
    University of Southern California
    Los Angeles, CA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Benjamin H. Tam, MD

    Resident Physician
    University of Nevada Las Vegas
    Anaheim, CA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • AK

    Amina Khan, BS

    Medical Student
    University of Southern California
    SOUTH PASADENA, California, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • MF

    Mitchell Figueroa, BA

    University of Southern California, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Tamara N. Chambers, MD

    Associate Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
    Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
    Los Angeles, CA, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.