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Scientific Oral Presentations

Professional and Personal Development

Session: Scientific Oral Presentations - Personal and Professional Development

Understanding the Representation of Asian-Pacific Islanders Within Academic Otolaryngology Leadership

Monday, September 30, 2024
9:36 AM – 9:42 AM EDT
Location: MBCC, 214-215
Disclosure(s):
Neil N. Luu, MD:

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

Alison J. Yu, MD:

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

Daniel I. Kwon, MD:

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

Introduction: Despite efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion among workplace leadership, Asian-American/Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have largely been overlooked in these efforts despite a longstanding history of anti-AAPI discrimination, most recently during the COVID-19 pandemic. While this “bamboo ceiling” – coined by executive coach Jane Hyun 2005 – has been observed in multiple fields and explored in other specialties, we sought to understand its position within academic otolaryngology leadership.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of Association of American Medical Colleges data on full-time faculty from all US medical schools collected from 2020 to 2023 was conducted. Demographic and faculty position characteristics were collected. Descriptive statistics, significance testing, Rank Equity Index (ratio of percentage representation of a higher faculty rank relative to that of a lower rank; REI < 1.00 indicates parity between ranks), and multivariable ordinal regression were used to characterize our cohort and assess the impact of race on academic advancement.

Results: Among 9,056 faculty over 4 years, AAPIs comprised 20.53% of positions. In multivariable logistic regressions assessing factors associated with pursuing tenure-track positions (TTPs) and receiving tenure while on track, AAPIs were not less likely to pursue TTPs but were associated with decreased likelihood of achieving tenure (OR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.64-0.93]). While AAPIs had an associate/assistant professor REI of 1.09, they were the only major racial group (White, Hispanic, African-American, AAPI) to have an associate/professor REI below 1. In a multivariable ordinal regression assessing demographic factors associated with academic promotion, AAPIs, but not African Americans or Hispanics, were associated with significantly decreased likelihood of promotion relative to White faculty (OR = 0.82, 95% CI [0.74-0.9]).

Conclusions: Despite strong overall representation in otolaryngology, AAPIs may be less likely to receive promotion, tenure, or full professorship relative to other racial groups, suggesting a possible bamboo ceiling.

    Co-Author(s)

  • ML

    Matthew E. Lin, MD

    Resident Physician
    Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
    Los Angeles, California, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Presenting Author(s)

  • Neil N. Luu, MD

    Resident Physician
    Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 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)

  • Diego E. Razura, BS

    Medical Student
    Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University
    Johnson City, TN, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • Alison J. Yu, MD

    Fellow
    University of Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia, PA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

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

  • Daniel I. Kwon, MD

    Associate Professor
    USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
    Los Angeles, California, United States

    Disclosure(s):

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

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Daniel I. Kwon, MD

    Associate Professor
    USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
    Los Angeles, California, United States

    Disclosure(s):

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

    • Co-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.

    • 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.