Report Accuses Six US Medical Schools of Rebranding DEI Offices While Keeping the Same Programming

Medical schools in the United States have renamed their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) departments while continuing much the same programming, according to a new report. The report by CriticalRace.org examined six medical schools and reached that conclusion.

Since President Donald Trump began his second term in 2025, his administration has increased scrutiny of DEI programs in higher education and medicine. The report says that although the language has softened, the departments' programming has remained largely unchanged.

William Jacobson, a Cornell Law School professor and founder of the Equal Protection Project, told Fox News Digital that the rebranding is not really meaningful. In his words, the programming has not changed; in many cases it has simply been shifted to a different department or placed under a different name.

The schools named in the report are Drexel University College of Medicine, the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and the University of Nevada-Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med).

According to the report, Drexel's new Office of Community Health and Inclusive Excellence incorporates the functions of the former DEI office and the former Office of Community Health & Health Equity. The office supports Diversity Week and the Diversity in Medicine Research Symposium.

The Zucker School of Medicine renamed its DEI office the Office of Engagement & Excellence. The report says its featured events include student-led 'Safe and Brave Spaces' and 'Diversity Night.' Hofstra University spokesperson Terry Coniglio said the school supports all students while remaining consistent with its institutional values and applicable law.

At Northwestern's Feinberg School, the former DEI office has been replaced by the Office of Health Equity, according to the report. That office offers 'Safe Space Training' open to students, trainees, staff and faculty.

On UNR Med, the report says the school moved its DEI programs from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to the Multicultural Center. In response, UNR Med said the dean's staff includes an associate dean for inclusive excellence but no named office. It added that the Multicultural Center serves the entire university, does not conduct student recruitment or admissions, and that the school complies with all federal and state laws.

Fox News Digital sought comment from Drexel, Saint Louis, Northwestern and Temple but did not immediately receive responses, according to the report.