Sound Progress? Asian Representation in Otolaryngology Residency Programs: A 5‐Year Update

Objective Gains in Asian representation have been reported across otolaryngology residency programs over the previous decade. We provide an update on otolaryngology resident demographics from 2018 to 2024 to determine how Asian representation has changed. Methods Demographic data from annual reports by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Otolaryngology resident reports were compared to other medical specialties. Asian representation was assessed and compared to that of other reported races/ethnicities. Trends were compared between 2018 and 2024. Results Between 2018 and 2024, Asian representation in Otolaryngology remained stable, showing a small decline from 2018 to 2023 that was followed by rebound growth in 2023–2024 observed across multiple specialties. The total proportion of Asian, Black, and Hispanic residents rose significantly ( p < 0.05), while the percent of White residents declined. At 24.48%, Asian otolaryngology resident levels for the period were only 0.34% higher than the Asian medical student graduate level. Conclusion From 2018 to 2024, Asian representation in Otolaryngology remained stable, with limited but insignificant growth overall. Sustained increases in the proportion of Asian otolaryngology residents have yet to be seen, but there remain promising levels of Asian resident representation, especially compared to other minority groups.