Similar efforts are underway at a handful of other schools. I expect we’ll see more of this.
Deseret News reports:
University of Utah medical students call for school to cut ties with policeA group of students from the University of Utah School of Medicine gathered Friday to deliver a list of demands to school officials in hopes of combating racism in the community.“Racism is and has been prevalent in health care and leads to disparities in health outcomes. And that is something that is contradictory to what we hope to accomplish as physicians in improving our patients’ health,” said Madison Kieffer, a second-year medical student.As part of the national White Coats for Black Lives movement of health care workers advocating for racial equality after the killing by police of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the students, residents and physician assistants are calling Utah’s flagship medical school to cut ties with police.“It does not mean no efforts for community safety. It means looking into other ways to keep our campus, and our clinics,and our patients safe,” Kieffer said.Kieffer spoke to reporters after she and a group of about 20 other students quietly entered and exited the medical school administration building sporting all black clothing to deliver their demands.University officials in a statement Friday evening said they “appreciate the work the students presented and we look forward to working with them on these issues.”“We are encouraged that some of the items requested are already in progress. Our leaders will review the document and meet with the students within two weeks to review a detailed plan,” officials said.
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