These Ohio Medical Schools Are Violating Civil Rights

Multiple Ohio schools of medicine are violating students’ civil rights—specifically by discriminating on the basis of race. That’s the message of official complaints that Do No Harm filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights on June 14th. These institutions must be held accountable for this blatant injustice.

The schools in question are: 

• The Ohio State University College of Medicine (two complaints, here and here)
• The University of Cincinnati School of Medicine
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital
• The University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

Combined, these medical schools offer five scholarships that are available to students of certain races and identities. This is racial discrimination, plain and simple, which makes the scholarships illegal under federal law.

The Civil Rights Act holds that “no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance,” which includes all four medical schools.

We are asking the Office of Civil Rights to “promptly investigate the allegations in [these] complaint[s], act swiftly to remedy unlawful policies and practices, and order appropriate relief.” Racial discrimination is unacceptable – in healthcare as much as everywhere else.

If you know of a discriminatory scholarship or policy at your medical school, please let us know.