WomenInOphthalmology: Gender Diversity in Ophthalmology Residency Program Social Media

Purpose: Although women constitute a significant portion of medical students and physicians, representation of women in ophthalmology is relatively low. Residency programs are increasingly using social media to showcase and represent their program culture. The purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to assess representation of gender diversity in social media posts by U.S. ophthalmology residency programs. Methods: Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterTwitter/X accounts of ophthalmology residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education were identified. Social media posts from 2019-2021 were analyzed for representation of gender diversity and/or explicit statements regarding gender diversity. Program metrics, including geographic region, gender of the program director (PD) and department chair (DC), proportion of female residents, residency and faculty size, academic affiliation, number of training sites, presence of diversity statement on the program website, and top 20 ranking were noted. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis H, Mann-Whitney U, chi-square, and linear regression multivariable analyses were performed with significance at a=0.05. Results: Across Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterTwitter/X, 20580 total posts from 2019 to 2021 were analyzed. 30% of posts showed gender diversity, 2.0% explicitly addressed women in ophthalmology, and 3.4% spotlighted a female ophthalmologist. The median proportions of posts showing gender diversity (0.24 vs. 0.43, p=0.004) and posts highlighting female ophthalmologists significantly increased from 2019 to 2021 (0.08 vs. 0.13, p=0.012). The median proportion of gender diversity-showing posts was higher for programs with female PDs (0.48 vs. 0.33, p=0.010). On multivariable analysis, the Midwest was a predictor of gender diversity in posts (B=0.019, p=0.0495). The most popular hashtag used was #illooklikeasurgeon (n=115). Discussion: Gender diversity representation in ophthalmology residency program social media is increasing over time. Institutions can utilize social media to raise awareness and promote gender diversity in ophthalmology.