Federal Civil Rights Investigation of Indiana University School of Medicine Comes to a Close – But Is the Institution Still Engaging In Racial Discrimination?

The Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) was forced to respond to a federal civil rights complaint and investigation into a discriminatory program filed by Do No Harm. However, that response – and IUSM’s ongoing actions – indicates the school doesn’t intend to end its discriminatory programs.

In late 2022, we reported that IUSM was under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for violations of Title VI and Title IX in its Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Elective. At the time of the complaint and investigation, the eligibility criteria stated that eligible applicants were limited to those belonging to specific racial/ethnic groups and/or sexual orientation identities.

---

After the investigation was opened by the OCR in December 2022, IUSM changed the eligibility language, removing the race/ethnicity and sexual orientation criteria and replacing it with the statement, “Preference will be given to applicants whose personal statements establish that their background and/or perspective will contribute to IUSM’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.”

“The original eligibility was restricted to medical students who identify as one or more of the three diversity categories of Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and LGBTQ+,” said Mark Perry, senior fellow at Do No Harm. “Those restrictions have been removed, and IUSM also removed any mention of Race/Ethnicity on the program application,” he stated. As a result of these modifications, the OCR notified Perry that has closed the investigation as of July 3, 2023.

“However, IUSM hasn’t fully committed to stop discriminating,” Perry continued, “because the name is still the same and the program description still shows intent to favor applicants who are ‘underrepresented in medicine.’” The program description on its webpage states:

Indiana University School of Medicine is working to diversify the workforce by graduating more physicians from underrepresented groups and ensuring that all trainees are prepared to provide culturally competent care for patients from all walks of life. The Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Elective Program supports 4^th year medical students and qualified 3^rd-year medical students attending a U.S. medical school including U.S. territories, from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine.

Further evidence of IUSM’s discriminatory actions is seen in its Underrepresented in Medicine Resident Scholar program, which attempts to circumvent federal law by stating:

The Underrepresented in Medicine Resident Scholar program is open to all IU School of Medicine residents and fellows, with intentionality towards Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx or other diverse perspectives.

Perry has filed an additional complaint with the OCR for another violation of Title VI by the Indiana University School of Medicine.