Duke Medical School’s DEI Plan Criticized For Labeling Professional Norms As Racist

Duke University School of Medicine has faced backlash after releasing an “anti-racism strategic plan” that identifies professional behaviors such as timeliness, individualism and dress codes as elements of “White supremacy culture.” The plan, launched in June 2021, is part of a broader effort to address systemic racism within the institution.

The 42-page document, “Dismantling Racism and Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the School of Medicine,” outlines 18-month priority initiatives, highlighting diversity while criticizing what it describes as White supremacy culture. According to the plan, this culture implicitly privileges White individuals and marginalizes non-Western and non-White professional standards.

Key characteristics identified as part of this culture include “perfectionism, belief that there’s only one right way, power hoarding, individualism, sense of urgency and defensiveness.” These traits, the plan argues, maintain White supremacy by enforcing Western-centric norms.

This stance has ignited significant controversy, especially as other institutions and states, such as Florida and Texas, move to eliminate DEI programs from their educational systems. In contrast, Duke reaffirmed its commitment to these principles in January 2023, citing motivations from the Black Lives Matter movement and the death of George Floyd.

Vice Dean of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Kevin Thomas outlined five priority areas: fostering an inclusive culture, enhancing leadership capacity and accountability, promoting longitudinal learning, ensuring equitable recruitment and retention practices, and advancing assessment and research. Dean Dr. Mary E. Klotman emphasized the plan’s adaptability and long-term vision.

The plan also references “White fragility,” a term coined by Robin DiAngelo, to describe defensive behaviors by White individuals when discussing racism. This inclusion has further fueled the debate surrounding the plan’s approach to addressing racial issues.

Despite the contentious nature of the plan, Duke encourages its community to engage actively in these efforts. Fox News Digital, which highlighted the strategic plan, noted that Duke had not provided immediate comment on the matter.