Workforce Diversity in Sports Medicine: Analysis of Recent Trends Relative to the US Population

This was a cross-sectional study of sports medicine fellows from previous (2010-2015) and contemporary (2016-2021) training periods. There were 2315 trainees from family medicine (FM, 85%), 261 trainees from physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR, 10%), and 133 trainees from emergency medicine (EM, 5%). PMR had the highest female and Asian trainee representation while FM had the highest Black trainee representation. There was no difference in female representation between training periods (30% vs 30%, P = 0.714). White trainee representation decreased between training periods (72% vs 65%, P < 0.001). Black (6% vs 6%, P = 0.894), Asian (15% vs 15%, P = 0.970), and Hispanic (6% vs 7%, P = 0.130) trainee representation was consistent between training periods. Female (participation-to-prevalence ratio, PPR = 0.59), Black (PPR = 0.48), Hispanic (PPR = 0.35), and American Indian/Alaskan Native (PPR = 0.17) trainees were underrepresented in sports medicine relative to the US population. Efforts to recruit underrepresented groups in sports medicine fellowship training may help create a more diverse workforce.