Commentary

University of Tennessee College of Medicine DICE Inventory Score: 73%

  • By Do No Harm Staff
  • January 25, 2023
  • University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Just how woke is Tennessee’s UT College of Medicine? Very woke indeed, as it just confirmed to Do No Harm.

Here’s the background. In November 2022, the Association of American Medical Colleges released a report showing that the vast majority of medical schools have embraced identity politics, despite their divisive and even discriminatory nature. The report was based on surveys of specific medical schools, which the AAMC didn’t name.

For the sake of transparency and accountability, Do No Harm submitted freedom of information requests to public medical schools nationwide, including the UT College of Medicine (UTCOM). We asked for a copy of its survey response, so that Tennessee taxpayers and policymakers could learn the truth about this institution.

Here’s what the UT College of Medicine has self-reported:

  • It has adopted racially discriminatory admissions practices under the guise of “affirmative action.” UTCOM says it has “policies and practices for encouraging a diverse class of students.” This means it’s potentially lowering med school admissions standards in the name of diversity, thereby threatening patient health.
  • It lobbies for woke policies at the federal, state, and/or local levels. This means it’s wading into toxic public debates instead of fully focusing on educating future physicians. 
  • It offers tenure and promotion to faculty who prove their commitment to extreme identity politics and woke priorities. UTCOM reported that its tenure and promotion policies “specifically reward faculty scholarship and service” on DEI-related topics. This is a litmus test that requires faculty to toe the party line instead of teaching medicine at the highest level. 
  • Its administrators are active within local, regional, and national forums to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion. This means it’s wasting resources that would be better spent on real medical education.

All told, the UT College of Medicine has instituted 73% of the divisive and discriminatory woke policies listed by the AAMC. This indicates that “moderate DEI efforts have been made.” And you can bet it is feeling pressure from activists and outside groups to go even further down the radical rabbit hole – doing even more damage to faculty, medical students, and ultimately, the millions of patients they’ll see.

Figure 1. University of Tennessee College of Medicine DICE Inventory total score and comparison.

Tennessee taxpayers help fund the UT College of Medicine. They, and the policymakers who represent them, should ask why they’re giving so much money to an institution that’s putting divisive and discriminatory ideology at the heart of medical education. More importantly, they should ensure the University of Tennessee College of Medicine stops, and soon.