This Georgia Medical School Is Violating Civil Rights

The Emory University School of Medicine is violating students’ civil rights – specifically by discriminating on the basis of race. That’s the message of an official complaint that Do No Harm filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights on July 8th. The school must be held accountable for this blatant injustice.

Our complaint centers on a “Diversity and Equity Scholarship Program” in the medical school’s Department of Urology. It is solely available to applicants who are “African American, Latinx, and/or Native American.” 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 Emory University.

We are asking the Office of Civil Rights to “promptly investigate the allegations in this complaint, 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.