The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Takes a Giant ‘LEAP’ Backwards

The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine’s (SAEM) Leadership, Engagement, and Academic Pathway (LEAP) Program is designed to provide mentorship and guidance to medical students seeking to work in academic emergency medicine.

Sponsored by the organization’s Equity and Inclusion Committee and the Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine, the LEAP program offers a $1,000 stipend, emergency medicine academic faculty mentorship, and additional scholarly opportunities.

Needless to say, the LEAP program would likely open doors for the selected students to advance professionally.

But there’s a catch: The program is geared toward students of particular racial groups and sexual identities. 

A flyer advertising the program notes it is “tailored” to students who are part of groups considered “underrepresented” in medicine. 

The Association of American Medical Colleges defines underrepresented groups simply as “those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population,” while the National Institutes of Health defines underrepresented groups as “Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders.”

Moreover, the LEAP program description stipulates that eligible candidates are from “historically marginalized groups” such as “individuals with disabilities, sexual or gender minorities, and historically marginalized ethnic and racial groups.”

Does this mean that a white or Asian student seeking mentorship would, or could, be denied due to their racial background? It’s not immediately clear.

But it is obvious that this program is explicitly designed to preference certain racial groups over others.

And if SAEM’s intentions weren’t evident, the program description notes that “special consideration for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs), and Osteopathic medical schools.” Oh, and the application itself directs students to enter their ethnic group and sexual preference.

Why is that information relevant to one’s suitability for mentorship? Why should certain racial groups be given preferential treatment when applying to a program that could help kickstart their careers?

It would appear that SAEM’s decision to prioritize advancing the DEI agenda over helping the most deserving students is the most likely answer to these questions. 

SAEM’s self-professed mission is to “create[ ] and promote[ ] scientific discovery, advancement of education, and the highest professional and ethical standards for clinicians, educators, and researchers.” Preferencing certain racial groups is not only counterproductive to these goals, but immoral in itself. 

SAEM should take its own mission to heart and cease all racial discrimination.