Press Release

Do No Harm Files Complaint Against UConn School of Medicine for Operating Discriminatory Externship

  • By Do No Harm Staff
  • August 27, 2025
  • University of Connecticut School of Medicine

RICHMOND, VA; August 27, 2025 – Today, Do No Harm filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (DOE-OCR) against the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Medicine for operating a racially discriminatory externship program. 

“By marketing the externship as a ‘pipeline for students of color,’ UConn’s School of Medicine isn’t even trying to hide its racially discriminatory behavior,” said Stanley Goldfarb, MD, Chairman of Do No Harm. “The school has put identity politics above merit, excellence, and skill. The program is a clear violation of federal law and strips qualified candidates of opportunities to progress in the medical field. Knowing the Department of Education takes these sorts of violations very seriously, we hope our complaint leads to an investigation of UConn’s discriminatory practices. Do No Harm remains committed to driving out divisive ideology and restoring integrity to America’s healthcare system.”

Click here to read the complaint. 

Background

UConn’s School of Medicine operates the Visiting Externship for Students Underrepresented in Medicine, and describes it as a “pipeline for students of color.” The program allows fourth-year medical students from other schools to enroll as visiting students at UConn, where they complete externships in a range of fields. However, to be eligible, the student must belong to a group UConn deems “underrepresented in medicine.”

On the application, students must explain how their “background as underrepresented in medicine” makes them “competitive” for the externship. Additionally, a student of color can apply without also identifying as LGBTQ, disabled, or low-income, while other applicants must provide additional identity qualifications.

Since UConn is a federally funded university, Do No Harm is asking DOE-OCR to investigate the school for violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits federal funds from being spent in “any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial discrimination.”

Do No Harm, established in April 2022, has rapidly gained recognition and made significant strides in its mission to safeguard healthcare from ideological threats. With over 30,000 members, including doctors, nurses, physicians, and concerned citizens across all 50 states and 14 countries, DNH has achieved over 10,000 media hits in top-tier publications and garnered widespread attention through numerous broadcast news appearances.