I agree with this sentiment and withdrew my application for the same reasons. I've provided some additional context below if that will help others.
So, I’ve been following this situation closely since Dr. Khoury first tweeted about it (
). I watched @/StudentsofKP express their solidarity with Dr. Khoury and demand answers on Twitter a week later (
). I reread the multiple diversity statements on KP’s website, wondering how an incident in such stark contract to their written values could have possibly happened. I watched as the Chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences informed her that her appointment would not be renewed because of “performance issues” (
). I watched Dr. Khoury follow up the previous post with a letter from that same Chairperson, in which he discusses a promotion with her and thanks her for the “great work [she does] for the School” not even three months before she was suspended (
). I reread the anti-racism action plan on KP’s website, which was updated two weeks before the incident (
https://medschool.kp.org/content/dam/internet/kp/som/homepage/about/equity-inclusion-and-diversity/KPSOM Anti-Racism Action Plan.pdf). I then read the DEI action plan that they released
less than a week ago, on January 4th (
https://medschool.kp.org/content/dam/internet/kp/som/homepage/about/equity-inclusion-and-diversity/Strengthening KPSOMs Culture An Initial Action Plan.pdf). I saw another few tweets from @/StudentsofKP demanding action (
).
Throughout this entire time, I watched Kaiser Permanente SOM make no statement about the situation. At this point, I emailed them and withdrew my application from consideration for their program.
I completely understand not wanting to put your neck out there and risk losing out on an opportunity to attend this school.
By no means am I asking anybody to do what I did if they do not feel safe in this decision. What I will ask you to consider is this: If an institution makes such an incredible effort in outlining and publicly sharing their goals as far as DEI is concerned, how is it not fair to question why they will not also publicly speak on this situation, in which they appear to have unfairly targeted a Black woman in medicine? If you, an institution, are going to make a 17-point plan related to DEI and include a diversity and inclusiveness statement in your literal missions and values page, then you should be able to stand on it.
To my knowledge, they have still not said a single word to the public about this situation due to "legal reasons." We’ve seen this pattern too many times. A Black person is unjustly shoved out of a space, and then the organization doesn’t speak of it in hopes that people will simply forget about it and move on. And that’s usually what happens. It’s the same formula over and over and over. It’s January, and we’re over halfway through application season. Waiting for “all of the facts” before making a decision is a luxury we, Black applicants, simply do not have at this point, especially when one, much more powerful side appears to be intentionally withholding said facts for this exact reason. Besides, it’s much easier to sell yourself to students on DEI when you don’t have to explain why you fired a Black woman for discussing racism in medicine (allegedly). This is why I feel it’s crucial to, at the very least, inquire as to why Dr. Khoury was let go. Importantly, despite the Chair mentioning in December that her “firing” was unrelated to her discussion of racism in medicine, an email she screen-capped and posted appears to say otherwise (
https://twitter.com/ayshakhoury/status/1347246392117325824?s=21).
Kaiser Permanente SOM’s silence, even in the face of repeated demands and criticism
from their own students, is resounding, and I simply can’t trust that an institution like that will be good for or care about me or people who look like I do, let alone our training or, perhaps more importantly, the care of a diverse array of patients.