Last year, The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) and the AAEM Resident and Student Association (AAEM/RSA) proudly signed on, with eight other emergency medicine organizations, to the All EM DEI Vision Statement.
In the wake of the Anti-DEI Medical Education Legislation, the Embracing Anti-Discrimination, Unbiased Curriculum, and Advancing Truth in Education (EDUCATE) act (H.R.7725); AAEM and AAEM/RSA stands firm in its commitment to cultural awareness, diversity, and inclusion within medical education, in our specialty, our workplace, and the communities we serve.
The EDUCATE Act would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, removing federal dollars from any institution that has policies related to or promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
We, the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and the AAEM Resident and Student Association, stalwartly oppose the EDUCATE act.
Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) offices in medical education promote empathy, understanding, and appreciation for diversity. This will inevitably prepare future physicians to navigate a diverse world and contribute positively to society.
Promotion of DEI must be intentional. The bill’s sponsor stated, “We do want a diverse group of individuals going into medical school, but we should not sacrifice the quality of those students.” AAEM and AAEM/RSA believe resolutely that embracing diversity is a strength, not a weakness. Further, diversity does not sacrifice quality; it increases the quality of medical students and enhances medical education.
AAEM and AAEM/RSA stand alongside the AMA, ACEP, EMRA, SAEM and any other organization that opposes this legislation and calls on all physicians to voice their opposition.