Medical Schools Are Offering ‘Incentives’ For Departments That Hit Diversity Targets: REPORT

Medical Schools Are Offering ‘Incentives’ For Departments That Hit Diversity Targets: REPORT

Laurel Duggan on November 21, 2022

More than a third of medical schools are offering incentives to departments to hit their diversity targets, according to a November report from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Of the 101 medical schools surveyed, 35.6% offered performance incentives to reach their diversity, inclusion and equity goals, according to the report. The survey revealed widespread adoption of diversity-oriented initiatives in medical schools nationwide, including mandatory diversity classes, assessment of staff members’ “contributions” to diversity goals and campus-wide climate assessments.

Every year, incoming med students across the country get their white coats and pledge to “First, do no harm.” 🩺

But this year, @umnmedschool appears to have made its incoming class pledge allegiance to a controversial set of ideologies — ones not all students may agree with. /1 pic.twitter.com/h31Gmmjwsz

— FIRE (@TheFIREorg) October 13, 2022

It’s unclear from the report what proportion of the diversity-based incentives are financial in nature. The survey comes amid a push from higher education and the medical profession to promote racial diversity, often at the expense of merit and objectivity.

In addition to those incentives, 39.6% of medical schools require diversity statements or have other systems in place for assessing candidates’ commitment and diversity and inclusion, according to the report. Every school in the survey had admissions processes meant to encourage diversity.

Moreover, more than two thirds of medical schools require departments to assemble a diverse pool of candidates for faculty positions, according to the survey.

The AAMC did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.