Medical Students Fight Elimination of the Nation's First Medical School Diversity Office

July 19, 2012 - PRLog -- PHILADELPHIA, – On June 25, 2012, concerned students at the Perelman School of Medicine submitted a petition, now signed by over 1000 students, alumni, faculty and concerned citizens, to reinstate the Office for Diversity and Community Outreach (ODCO). The decision to eliminate the office was finalized in late May 2012.  However, the administration offered no formal announcement until June 26, 2012, three days prior to the planned closure of the office. Until then, neither the Medical Student Government nor the students on the Underrepresented in Medicine Advisory Committee were formally informed of the planned dissolution. Furthermore, students cite the timing of the closure as purposely strategic; occurring when students had either recently graduated or began vacation.

Founded in 1968, the ODCO, originally the Office of Minority Affairs, was the Nation’s first medical school diversity office. Now, most top tier medical schools have thriving diversity offices devoted to recruiting and retaining students who are underrepresented in medicine.  Functions of the ODCO included high school and college mentorship programs, medical student recruitment, support of current students and working with underserved populations in Philadelphia.

The decision to eliminate the ODCO became effective on June 29, 2012, the day after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a bill which also seeks to “increase diversity in the healthcare workforce” in order to reduce health disparities and improve the health of all Americans. The dissolution of this office also follows the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) recent expansion of the definition of diversity.

On July 3rd, over fifty concerned students and alumni met with the administration to express their discontent. After hearing the students’ concerns Gail Morrison, Senior Vice Dean for Education, expressed that she would not have done anything differently because “the real world isn’t segregated.”  As an impetus and framework for the elimination of the ODCO, Dr. Morrison cited an article entitled “Diversity 3.0: A Necessary Systems Upgrade” written by Marc Nivet, the Chief Diversity Officer for the AAMC. Whereas Nivet and leaders at other medical schools have interpreted the proposed tenets as an invitation to include, serve and celebrate an expanding definition of diversity, the Perelman administration has reacted by unapologetically eliminating their diversity office.  In its place they have announced a poorly defined “Diversity and Inclusion Program,” led by medical faculty. The new program currently has no formal office or full time staff. The administration’s response to the student petition has downplayed the changes, emphasizing its long-term commitment to diversity, and does not address the students’ practical concerns or outline a concrete plan for moving forward.

As proof of their commitment to diversity, Perelman administrators also cite their recently launched search for a Vice Dean to oversee Diversity in the University Health System. In truth, however, this search is beginning after a three year delay in replacing a similar position left vacant by the untimely passing of Dr. Bernett Johnson, then Chief Medical Officer of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Community Outreach. As of yet, the Vice Dean position has not been approved by the University of Pennsylvania’s executive board, the search committee has not convened and no candidates have been interviewed. While the expansion of medical faculty participating in this diversity program may be helpful, many students are concerned that full time physicians will not have time to fill all the responsibilities that were covered by the prior administrative staff.  They are requesting not only reinstatement of the prior office, but also expansion to encompass the new definition of diversity offered by the AAMC. As discontent builds, the students await further response from the administration.

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About Perelman for Diversity

In light of recent events, concerned students at the Perelman School of Medicine formed the Perelman for Diversity group, as a mechanism to express their discontent with the administration's decision to eliminate the Office for Diversity and Community Outreach. We feel that as an institute of higher learning, the University of Pennsylvania should make greater efforts to show their commitment to diversity and we are working to bring attention to this very important matter.

Contact:

Perelman For Diversity
Email: PerelmanForDiversity@gmail.com
Phone: 215.720.1220