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The Dirge of the DEI

October 2024 | Vol. 68, No. 1
Written by Sam Garloff, DO

WGRP reporting live. Allow me to set off a firestorm. I confess I enjoy doing so. Equality does not equate with diversity, diversity does not equate with equality and no two people agree on how to achieve inclusion. Worse, none of these categories assure exceptionalism. What’s a med school to do?

I have read numerous articles about achieving diversity, equality and inclusion in medical school acceptance policies. These certainly are not new social issues, but the focus on medical school acceptance is, as our youthful colleagues say, trending. Some schools have resorted to employing Deans of Diversity. I’m glad I’m not one of their ranks. Being a self-proclaimed humanist, however, I submit this offering to simplify the issue for those charged with solving these problems.

As a start, I will divide applicants into the following categories: Ethnic groups, Racial groups, Sexual orientation/attraction/behavior groups, Medical diagnostic groups and Country of origin. You will notice the absence of political affiliation groups as a humanist, such as myself, would never seek to provoke feelings of unease.

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