In 2024, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) organized a seminar in which it expressed support for implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in "everything." Now, Brown University Medical School is reportedly prioritizing the controversial framework in faculty promotions.
The guidelines classify a "[d]emonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion" as a "major criterion" for promotion for several positions. More specifically, it entails pushing for DEI in "research," "teaching," "clinical care," and "service," while "[s]ubstantial service contributions," "[t]eaching contributions," and "[s]ervice contributions demonstrating a substantial role" are demoted to "minor criterion."
Dr. Brick Lantz, vice president of bioethics and public policy of the Christian Medical Association, says inclusivity is not necessarily wrong, but in this context, it is a disservice.
"My overall concern with our culture and for medical schools like Brown is if we're going to have to be … whatever they consider to be inclusive, and … if we ignore the criteria of competency, this is going to be a detriment not only to training, but to patient care," he submits.
Medical students have disclosed to him that DEI takes away from their education.
"Facts and terms and medical processes and physiology and pathophysiology and everything else you need to learn – that's what we want students to focus on," Dr. Lantz contends. "They want to be the most knowledgeable, the most technically proficient physicians, whatever practice they choose to go in."
Dr. Lantz thinks proponents will soon find that DEI has done the opposite of what they expected.
