Top institutions removing DEI from admissions

[PickaGodnPray]

The University of Michigan announced it was ending all DEI programs yesterday and many other institutions have already done so/are actively doing so. In light of this, what can we expect from medical schools and the medical field as a whole moving forward? The impact on health disparities across socioeconomic groups is clear, but are there any strategies we can pursue to address these issues? Trying to expand my perspective before meeting with my state representative about this and the already pulled research funding.

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[pedneuro6894]

IMO, I think that while they are ending DEI "programs", every med schools mission of "serving the underserved" will remain the same, and they will still have clubs, interest groups, and opportunities that have similar if not the same purpose as the DEI programs they are discontinuing. Also, I imagine the application process will still focus on holistic review that takes into account every student's experiences and upbringing.

I think we can all agree that a person who is underserving of being admitted should not be admitted just because they fill a statistic (and I don't think med schools are doing this in the first place), or a person in med school should not be given preferential treatment solely based on a demographic factor. However, understanding implications that come from these demographics and upbringings, and finding ways to break these barriers, will still be a theme. Little timmy who grew up with a CT surgeon father will often have "better" experiences than someone who grinded their way from inner city baltimore, and I don't think that sentiment will disappear.

EDIT: I think the biggest issue is the pulling of funding for research. We are already seeing implications of this, and I don't think it's going to get better anytime soon

 

[Goro]

Med schools have and will figure out a way to get around the DEI ban. For example, scrubbing school websites of the "banned words" so the Muskrats can't AI search them; using different terminology about the school's missions, and looking at applicant's zip codes, if they mention their status about growing up disadvantaged, if they mention ethnicity in their essays (which the Supreme Court said was OK to consider).

In my evaluations of apps, I don't use the word "diversity", but use different terms (no, I can't share, but you guys know how to use a thesaurus).

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I expect medical / professional students to remain vigilant to advocate for underrepresented or marginalized communities. You may have to fund some activities out of pocket or find other community resources outside the university provided they are not adversely affected.

I'm sure many current medical students and residents look at visible minorities as being "DEI admits." That's not going to change.

The withdrawal of corporate funding for Pride Days is an example.

Transgender Day of Visibility is Monday. What will you do.

American Medical Student Association Home

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), with a half-century history of medical student activism, is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States.

www.amsa.org

 

[Hollow Knight]

My school’s admissions procedures haven’t changed at all. But it’s not like we were going around giving applicants static bonuses based on race or anything like that anyway.

We still very much care about taking care of the impoverished, marginalized groups, etc. We just don’t use those words.

 

[PickaGodnPray]

Not really speaking about admissions as with holistic admissions it’s clear that individuals do not receive an A based solely upon their race. I don’t see this affecting that dramatically.
I’m more focused on the ability to attend these schools and larger effects on healthcare as a whole. For example, hundreds of students lost scholarship yesterday worth 5k-15k per year at Umich, which greatly impacts their ability to attend the university.