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BACKGROUND: Ethnic diversity in the clinical academic workforce is critical for fostering inclusive research, education, and leadership. AIM: This descriptive analysis aims to examine ethnic diversity trends in UK general practice academic staffing, focusing on changes in representation across academic ranks (professor, senior lecturer/reader, lecturer) from 2005 to 2023, using open-access survey data. METHOD: A descriptive analysis of the Medical Schools Council's Clinical Academic Survey data from 2005 to 2023 was conducted. Ethnicity profiles were categorised as 'White', 'Black and Minority Ethnic (BME)', and 'Not recorded'. The analysis examined ethnic representation across academic grades (professor, reader/senior lecturer, lecturer) and tracked year-on-year trends. RESULTS: BME representation increased across academic ranks, with the largest growth seen among readers/senior lecturers, rising from 9.4% in 2005 to 19.6% in 2023. Increased representation was also noted at entry levels, with BME academics comprising 26.9% of lecturers by 2023. However, BME individuals remain underrepresented in professorship roles, where growth was modest, increasing from 9.7% in 2005 to 14.1% in 2023. CONCLUSION: This study highlights notable trends in the ethnic composition of UK general practice clinical academics. The findings reveal progress in BME representation at early and mid-career levels but highlight disparities in senior professorships. This suggests that barriers to advancement into senior roles remain for BME academics and underscores the need for targeted support to facilitate their career progression. Future research should explore the intersectionality of gender and ethnicity and compare these trends with other medical specialties for a comprehensive understanding of diversity in clinical academia.
Yasmine Zedan (Thu,) studied this question.