The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is continuing to walk back some of its more overt references to diversity in its public materials. It’s a sign that the AAMC is moderating the outward manifestations of its long-historied DEI infatuation, even if it hasn’t given up the ideology wholesale just yet.
At some point last month, the AAMC updated the language used in its “Premed Competencies for Entering Medical Students.” These “competencies” refer to the traits and skills that incoming medical students should possess to succeed and become effective physicians.
An archived version of the article, dated February 1, 2026, included a competency titled “cultural humility,” which it defined as the skill in which one: “Seeks out and engages diverse and divergent perspectives with a desire to understand and willingness to adjust one’s mindset; understands a situation or idea from alternative viewpoints; reflects on one’s values, beliefs, and identities and how they may affect others; reflects on and addresses bias in oneself and others; and fosters a supportive environment that values inclusivity.”
Similarly, the page previously included the competency of “Cultural awareness”: “Appreciates how historical, sociocultural, political, and economic factors affect others’ interactions, behaviors, and well-being; values diversity; and demonstrates a desire to learn about different cultures, beliefs, and values.”
Now, “Cultural humility” is known as “Self-awareness,” and “Cultural awareness” has become “Understanding others.”
The definitions of the new competencies do not make direct references to diversity and related concepts.
Furthermore, the AAMC’s resource page on its PREview exam has changed as well.
As Do No Harm previously reported, one of the goals of the PREview exam is to promote “inclusivity” and “level the playing field” for applicants. The exam was also assessed by “experts” in DEI.
“In discussing the exam with our DEI constituents, the sentiment has always been that it would help level the playing field for applicants,” said David Acosta, MD, AAMC chief diversity and inclusion officer, in a 2022 statement.
Previously, the resource page contained the following language: “The PREview exam provides medical schools with a more complete view of each applicant by assessing skills such as resilience and adaptability, service orientation, ethical responsibility to self and others, empathy and compassion, cultural awareness, cultural humility, and teamwork and collaboration, among others.”
The current resource page, however, makes no mention of “cultural awareness” or “cultural humility.”
Of course, the PREview exam itself does not appear to have changed, but it is worth noting that the AAMC is trying to subtly rebrand its purpose after explicitly linking it to DEI just a few years ago.
And once again, if there is truly a change of heart in the AAMC leadership regarding DEI, we should expect the AAMC to publicly state this to be the case.
Until that point, we should remain skeptical.
