Ethnic diversity remains scarce in academic plastic and reconstructive surgery.

摘要

Iread with great interest and dismay the article by Drs. Butler, Britt, and Longaker (Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009; 123:1618-1627) on the dismal representation of ethnically diverse physicians in the field and academic practice of plastic surgery. I commend them for their work in investigating the ethnic diversity in plastic and reconstructive surgery which, in their words, "can bring attention to a deficit that, if corrected, could benefit the field and improve the entire health care system." As I read, I realized that I am one of a mere 3.7 percent representation of U.S. plastic and reconstructive surgery residents and fellows. Even more discouraging is the fact that African American/black representation in U.S. plastic and reconstructive surgery faculty and tenured professors is 1.4 and 1.6 percent, respectively.