African Americans in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Factors Affecting Career Choice, Satisfaction and Practice Patterns

African Americans in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: factors affecting career choice, satisfaction and practice patterns  

Thalia-Rae Criddle, DMD, Newton C. Gordon, DDS, MS,  George Blakey, DDS,  R. Bryan Bell, DDS, MD, FACS

Abstract

Introduction: There is little data available on the factors involved in the selection of OMS as a specialty or the practice patterns and satisfaction among minority oral surgeons¹. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to: 1) explore the motivating factors that contribute to African-Americans choosing Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as a career; 2) examine attitudes and personal satisfaction amongst minority oral and maxillofacial surgeons with the OMS residency application and training process; 3) report on practice patterns amongst minority oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and 4) to identify perceived bias for or against African-American and other minority oral and maxillofacial surgeons in attempt to aid the efforts of OMS residency programs and organizations to foster diversity². Methods: A 19-item survey was sent to 80 OMS practitioners using contact information from the National Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, an AAOMS affiliated organization, mailing list. All surveys were administered in paper format by mail and were followed by a reminder mailing after eight weeks. Only responses delivered within 16 weeks were accepted for analysis. Results: Of the 80 mailed surveys, 41 returned within the 16-week parameters representing a return rate of 51%. The majority of minority surgeon respondents were married males with a mean age of 60 who practice surgery in a private practice setting. Most respondents currently practice on the eastern coast of the United States with some practicing on the western coast. Exposure in dental school was the most important factor in selecting OMFS as a specialty and both location and prestige were the most important factors in selecting a residency program. Most respondents reported that race did not affect the success of their application to residency and does not currently affect the success of their practice. However, 25-46% of participants have experienced race-related harassment and 48-55% of participants feel there is a bias against African Americans in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Conclusions: Our data suggests that a significant number of minority oral and maxillofacial surgeons subjectively perceive race-based bias in their career, although it did not appear to affect professional success.

References:

1.     Aziz SR. Racial diversity in American oral and maxillofacial surgery. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2010 Aug;68(8):1723-31. Epub 2010 May 26.

2.     Peterson NB, Friedman RH, Ash AS. Faculty self-reported experiences with racial and ethnic discrimination in academic medicine. J Gen Intern Med. 2004: 19-259-265.