The Association of Having Physician Parents with Medical Students’ Intention to Pursue Ophthalmology: An AAMC Analysis

Background: Having a physician parent may influence a medical students’ career choices. However, limited data exists regarding the relationship between having a physician parent and medical students’ intention to pursue ophthalmology, which remains a highly competitive specialty. Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of physician parents among U.S. medical students intending to pursue ophthalmology and identify associated demographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using deidentified data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Graduation Questionnaire (GQ) administered between 2016 and 2022. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine associations between physician parent status, specialty choice, and intention to care for underserved populations. Results: Of 106,107 students who completed the GQ, 2,499 (2.36%) intended to pursue ophthalmology. A significantly greater proportion of students reported having at least one physician parent compared with those pursuing other surgical (21.4% vs. 14.0% p < 0.001) or medical specialties (21.4% vs. 13.0% p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, physician parent status was associated with increased odds of pursuing ophthalmology compared to other surgical (aOR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.44-1.77) and medical specialties (aOR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.58-1.92). A greater proportion of students with physician parents were female (45.6% vs. 39.0% p = 0.003) and graduated without educational debt (56.5% vs 28.4% p < 0.001). Physician parent status was not associated with intention to care for underserved populations. Conclusions: Students pursuing ophthalmology are more likely to have physician parents compared to with those entering other surgical and medical specialties. Addressing disparities in exposure, mentorship, and representation is critical to advancing workforce diversity and promoting equitable eye care.