Physician Stanley Goldfarb accuses five U.S. medical schools of discrimination and files complaints

A physician who serves as chair of a woke antiracist organization is alleging that some U.S. medical schools are actively discriminating against white students.

Dr. Stanley Goldfarb filed complaints to the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights alleging that five schools are in breach of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin.

He alleges the schools are granting scholarships based on race rather than academic ability – and as a result are discriminating against white applicants as they  try and fill their quotas of minority students and demographics, who in the pastwere previously ‘underrepresented’ within the student body. 

Goldfarb is the board chair of Do No Harm, whose raison d’etre is to combat antiracism and discrimination in the world of medicine. The tagline on their website reads “state violence is a public health issue” – an apparent reference to police shootings of black people that have gained outsize public scrutiny in recent years.

The group have identified five schools as pushing the ‘discriminatory’ policies.

They include the Florida College of Medicine,  University of Minnesota Medical School, University of Oklahoma-Tulsa School of Community Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine and the Medical College of Wisconsin.   

Dr. Stanley Goldfarb is the board chair of Do No Harm, whose raison d’etre is to combat antiracism and discrimination in the world of medicine

Medical College of Wisconsin is one of the schools which has a Visiting Medical Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Student Elective Program designed to place students from previously 'underrepresented' demographics onto the medical program

Medical College of Wisconsin is one of the schools which has a Visiting Medical Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Student Elective Program designed to place students from previously ‘underrepresented’ demographics onto the medical program 

Goldfarb even invoked ‘antiracist’ author Ibram X. Kendi, the director of Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research, when justifying their decision to file the complaint.

‘This reflects Ibram Kendi’s idea that in order to produce some sort of justification of past discrimination, we engage in current and future discrimination. And we… completely reject this idea,’ Dr. Goldfarb told Fox News. 

‘In fact, the scholarships are illegal, and they should not occur. And these schools need to really reject this kind of racialist approach to education… and should embark on programs that are fair and equitable to all individuals.’

'This reflects Ibram Kendi's idea that in order to produce some sort of justification of past discrimination, we engage in current and future discrimination. And we… completely reject this idea,' Dr. Goldfarb suggested.  Ibram X. Kendi, the director of Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research is pictured, above

‘This reflects Ibram Kendi’s idea that in order to produce some sort of justification of past discrimination, we engage in current and future discrimination. And we… completely reject this idea,’ Dr. Goldfarb suggested.  Ibram X. Kendi, the director of Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research is pictured, above

The controversial anti-racism author has written three bestselling books, including How to Be an Antiracist, which became more popular in the wake of the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.

He was also named by TIME magazine as one of the most influential people in the world.

Goldfarb detailed how a study ‘done several years ago’ confirmed that medical schools had already deliberately limited the number of Jewish students in the past that were accepted onto their medical programs.

The University of Florida College of Medicine, pictured, is one of five schools named, accused of pushing for an ethnically diverse student body, ahead of academic ability

The University of Florida College of Medicine, pictured, is one of five schools named, accused of pushing for an ethnically diverse student body, ahead of academic ability

‘We think that admission to medical schools should be based on merit and merit alone. And that and there are plenty of African-American students who are highly qualified and are worthy of admission to medical school, and they should be admitted to medical school if they so desire to enter medical school – but on the basis of the fact that they’ve achieved what they’ve achieved, not because of some desire to create some sort of quota system in medicine where every medical school class perfectly reflects the population in the United States. 

‘And even if one tries to do that… it ends up excluding many people – typically South Asians and East Asian individuals are the ones who end up getting excluded.’

Goldfarb alleged how administrators at some of the medical schools had been taking what they perceived as ‘antiracist action’ in order to satisfy woke liberals, however in doing so they were in effect being discriminatory.

Goldfarb aired his fears that should discrimination become more common within the world of medicine, that resources could also eventually be ‘rationed’ on the basis of race, if such initiatives are left to go ‘unchecked.’

‘You know, hospitals are closing all around the country… and that inevitably leads to scarcity of availability of services. So if we have a scarcity of availability of services and some rules based on race, then inevitably we’re going to start to see differential treatments. Beyond that, I think it undermines trust that patients need to have in the health care system. You need to go to a physician and think that they’re doing the best for you simply because of the medical problems that you have and not for any other reason.’

The Florida College of Medicine runs the 'Underrepresented in Medicine Scholarship Program' which is open to underrepresented minority students pursuing emergency medicine

The Florida College of Medicine runs the ‘Underrepresented in Medicine Scholarship Program’ which is open to underrepresented minority students pursuing emergency medicine

Each of the schools clearly stipulates its policies to be admitted onto its scholarship programs.

The Florida College of Medicine runs the ‘Underrepresented in Medicine Scholarship Program’ which is open to underrepresented minority students pursuing emergency medicine. 

 ‘Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population and includes African Americans and/or Black, American Indian, Alaska Native, Naive Hawaiian, Hispanic/Latinx, and Pacific Islander,’ according to the Association of American Colleges.

But Goldfarb and Do No Harm allege the Florida College of Medicine is ‘openly flouting those obligations by allocating scholarship and employment opportunities based on race. In short, the University is prioritizing some medical students over others purely because of their race.’

At the University of Minnesota Medical School the Diversity in Pediatrics Visiting Student Elective Award is aimed at underrepresented minorities

At the University of Minnesota Medical School the Diversity in Pediatrics Visiting Student Elective Award is aimed at underrepresented minorities

Tulsa School of Community Medicine at the University of Oklahoma has a Visiting Underrepresented in Medicine Student Elective Program

Tulsa School of Community Medicine at the University of Oklahoma has a Visiting Underrepresented in Medicine Student Elective Program

At the University of Minnesota Medical School the Diversity in Pediatrics Visiting Student Elective Award is aimed at underrepresented minorities. 

Those accepted on to the program receive stipends together with career development opportunities.

‘As the University openly admits—indeed, advertises—students must be ‘belonging to a historically excluded group,” Do No Harm stated in their complaint.

‘In light of the University’s facially discriminatory eligibility standards, we ask the Department to promptly investigate the allegations in this complaint, act swiftly to remedy unlawful policies and practices, and order appropriate relief,’ the complaint to the Office of Civil Rights said, as seen by Fox News.

In the Tulsa School of Community Medicine at the University of Oklahoma, the educational establishment has a Visiting Underrepresented in Medicine Student Elective Program.

The program ‘expressly limits eligibility to individuals from specific racial demographics,’ the complaint details. 

Students on the program receive free housing, a stipend, and interview opportunities.

‘The Board must immediately suspend the Program or revise its terms to ensure that applicants of all races receive equal consideration,’ Do No Harm demanded.

The University of Utah School of Medicine runs the ‘Underrepresented in Medicine Student Clerkship Grant' which students can apply for

The University of Utah School of Medicine runs the ‘Underrepresented in Medicine Student Clerkship Grant’ which students can apply for

The University of Utah School of Medicine runs the ‘Underrepresented in Medicine Student Clerkship Grant.’

The program ‘supports and encourage medical students who identify as underrepresented in medicine (URiM). 

Similar to other schemes, those who are accepted receive a $2,500 stipend to help with living and travel expenses, together with career development opportunities,’ Do No Harm stated adding, ‘these financial benefits and professional opportunities, however, are strictly limited to individuals of certain races or ethnicities.’ 

Finally, the Medical College of Wisconsin also has a Visiting Medical Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Student Elective Program.

Do No Harm believe the program to ‘expressly limit eligibility to individuals from specific racial demographics. The terms of the program—which include free housing, a living stipend, professional mentorship, and interview opportunities—plainly state that the College will only consider applications from individuals who are ‘African Americans and/or Black, American Indian, Alaska Native, Naive Hawaiian, Hispanic/Latinx, [or] Pacific Islander,’ Do No Harm wrote in the complaint. 

‘The Medical College is prioritizing some medical students over others purely because of their race,’ the group stated. 

So far, only the Medical College of Wisconsin has responded to the allegations saying that it had not yet been made aware of the complaint and was ‘unaware of its contents or any related investigation,’ according to a spokesman.

source: dailymail.co.uk