The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is among the many medical schools across the country embracing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training, but a growing number of college campuses are starting to buck the trend.
Last week, the University of Arkansas announced its plans to dissolve its DEI program.
The University of North Carolina (UNC) medical school recently rejected 84 recommendations from its own Diversity, Equity and Inclusion task force. Those recommendations included strategies and initiatives by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) very similar to initiatives underway at the University of Alabama – Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine. Now, there is a call for lawmakers nationwide to follow the money and make decisions based on what is best for taxpayers and the future of healthcare.
In Texas, a report by medical watchdog group Do No Harm concluded the DEI programs in that state were "destructive philosophies" in which "medical students are indoctrinated with the idea that the entire healthcare industry is systemically racist, everyone in it is steeped in implicit bias, and its entire structure is designed to inflict harmful inequities and health disparities onto specific patient populations."
Do No Harm, an organization that stands for individual patients and against identity politics, also reported that the UAB Heersink School of Medicine offers medical school scholarships that discriminate on the basis of race. Those scholarships are restricted to African-American students.
"By advertising and administering these discriminatory scholarships, UAB appears to be in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964," the report stated. "We filed complaints for these discriminatory eligibility standards and are requesting prompt resolution from the OCR."
Another non-profit, Color Us United, said many DEI studies have nothing to do with medicine and only lower the quality of doctors because doctors are hired primarily based on race and not solely on merit. The founder of the non-profit, Zama and Xu, said training on bias and admitting students based on race does not improve the quality of patient care.
Color Us United plans to take the campaign to rescind DEI policies to all medical schools nationwide. UAB is one of the schools with DEI policies and actively promotes equity for all.
When asked about the DEI program at UAB, Alicia Rohan, director of public relations, said funding is considered when DEI initiatives are implemented.
"UAB Medicine exists to serve all people as a mission-driven, public institution and is required to meet accreditation standards," Rohan responded. "Without accreditation, which requires diversity programming and providing an environment characterized by, and supportive of, diversity and inclusion, UAB Medicine would lose critically needed medical education programming in Alabama and hundreds of millions of dollars in medical research funding."
Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, chairman of Do No Harm, knows firsthand how vital AAMC is to medical schools. What he said in a recent editorial in The New York Post parallels what Rohan told 1819 News.
"Medical schools should fear a failing grade from the AAMC, which helps determine whether they get accredited," Goldfarb wrote. "As a former associate dean, I can attest that when the AAMC sets priorities, administrators rush to follow them."
Goldfarb suggested lawmakers ask medical schools in their state to publish their AAMC audit and hold hearings on the findings.
"Why are taxpayers funding schools that only recruit politicized faculty? Why are they paying administrators who fixate on applicants' skin color? The public deserves to know exactly how woke their nearest medical school is so they can pressure it to put education — and ultimately quality of care — ahead of ideology," Goldfarb added.
Some states have introduced or passed laws to track DEI spending in colleges or universities, and some have prohibited colleges and universities from spending money on DEI programs.
As for UAB, Rohan said it is important to look ahead when training future medical professionals.
"Data show that awareness of health and other disparities improves healthcare and prepares the next generation of medical providers to care for all people," Rohan added.
According to UAB's DEI website, the goal of the DEI program at UAB is to be a national leader in fostering a collaborative environment that welcomes and celebrates all people. The school has "racial justice priorities" such as implementing an accountability system to address microaggressions, harassment, bias and racism, improve support and recognition of URiM (underrepresented in medicine) and female faculty, and create an Office for Diversity and Inclusion staff liaison group.
When asked about those priorities and required studies, UAB did not provide an answer. However, some information is available online.
"We believe that the next generation of physicians should reflect the growing diversity of our surrounding community and country," the medical school's website states. "We host pipeline programs designed to increase diversity in the healthcare workforce by exposing typically underrepresented students in medicine to various healthcare professions."
UAB has created a diversity dashboard showing gender and racial breakdowns of faculty. The school has also produced videos that explain cultural inclusivity.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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