Diversity within US dermatology residency programs and opportunities to care for underserved populations: A 2020 survey study

Dermatology is the second-least diverse medical specialty. In this survey study, we identified the current proportion of underrepresented in medicine (UIM) residents and faculty in dermatology residency programs, perceptions on the importance of program diversity, and various opportunities for dermatology residents to care for underserved populations. We found that programs that provided greater resident exposure to the care of underserved populations and those that strongly considered residency applicants’ desire to work with underserved populations had greater percentages of UIM residents. These findings illustrate the importance of expanding diversity among residency programs as this may be key to improving health disparities among underserved populations. Additionally, we identified various barriers that programs have to incorporating service-oriented curricula, including faculty time and cost.