Do No Harm v. University of Washington School of Medicine, et al.

UPDATE: Do No Harm secured a major victory after the University of Washington School of Medicine ended its discriminatory policy of excluding white students and physicians from its networking directory. The school renamed the “UW BIPOC Physician Directory” to “MD Connections” to make it clear that all students and physicians have equal access to this helpful resource.

According to the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM), “Deciding on a career or residency program is one of the most important decisions medical students make during their time in medical school.”

To support students interested in specialties and residency programs, the UWSOM runs a physician networking directory to connect students with physicians.

However, the school restricts access to this helpful resource based on skin color.

That’s right – the school’s directory is only available to “black, indigenous and people of color” or “BIPOC” students and physicians, and off-limits to white students.

Not only does the school exclude white students from the many benefits of a valuable networking tool, but the directory also excludes white physicians, even those who would be a great resource to all medical students, regardless of their race.

Rather than allow any doctor to add his or her name to the directory based on neutral criteria, UWSOM excludes white physicians automatically because of their race.

On October 15, 2024, Do No Harm filed a lawsuit against UWSOM on behalf of one such physician. This physician, a Do No Harm member, has mentored many medical students, residents, and younger doctors. These relationships not only benefited the mentees, but also benefited this Do No Harm member by allowing him to give back to his profession, think critically about his practice, and create future colleagues and professional connections.

Neither his race – nor the race of anyone he shared his knowledge and experience with – ever mattered, or was even mentioned.

But nevertheless, he is still excluded from UWSOM’s directory. UWSOM is prioritizing racial discrimination over ensuring that its students are well-trained and best able to serve patients. That’s why Do No Harm is fighting back. A victory in this case will send a clear message to medical schools to stop putting identity politics over the practice of medicine.