Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42743378›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Diversity in orthopaedic surgery residency applications-Where are we?

Ameen Chaudry, Rishi Trikha, Thomas Olson, Samuel Clarkson, Chad Ishmael, Kristofer Jones, Alexandra Stavrakis, Rachel Thompson, Nicholas Bernthal

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In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ameen ChaudryUCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1702-0468
Rishi TrikhaUCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Thomas OlsonUCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3960-156X
Samuel ClarksonUCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Chad IshmaelUCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Kristofer JonesUCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Alexandra StavrakisUCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Rachel ThompsonUCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Nicholas BernthalUCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionGender and racial diversity are key topics for discussion in medical education and, in particular, orthopaedic surgery. Studies have shown patient-physician concordance leads to improved healthcare outcomes. Despite this, the orthopaedic surgery workforce is amongst the least diverse. This study examined trends in gender and race amongst applicants to United States (U.S.) orthopaedic surgery programs to understand the future trajectory of the orthopaedic workforce. With an increasing emphasis on diversity, we hypothesize that gender and racial diversity among orthopaedic surgery applicants have increased.

methodsPublicly available demographic data from the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) for applicants to surgical residency programs between 2007 and 2019 were collected. Linear regression analysis by residency application year was performed for orthopaedic surgery and other surgical specialties. Z-tests were used to compare respective proportions.

resultsOver the 12-year study period, 18,542 applicants applied to U.S. orthopaedic programs. Of those, 14.9% were female and 28.2% were Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). The percentage of female applicants increased from 11.8% to 19.3% at a rate of 0.41% per year (R = 0.79). The percentage of BIPOC applicants between 2007-2019 ranged from 24.8 to 34.1% annually, trending upwards by 0.44% per year. Compared to other surgical specialties, orthopaedic surgery consistently demonstrated a paucity of female and BIPOC applicants. While African American and Hispanic representation in the orthopaedic surgery applicant pool were comparable to other surgical specialties (6.6% and 8.0%, respectively), Asian applicants were underrepresented at 15.4% compared to 19.3-22.6% for other specialties (p < 0.001).

conclusionsApplication to orthopaedic training programs by female and BIPOC individuals is persistently lower than in other specialties. Despite efforts to increase diversity, diversification has not accelerated signficantly. It remains important for orthopaedic residencies to continue institutional programs and grassroots efforts to encourage a diverse applicant pool.

Indexed as

Internship and ResidencyOrthopedicsFemaleHumansMaleUnited StatesWorkforce Diversity

Identifiers

PMID42743378
PMCPMC13577481

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.