By Aaron Gifford
The nation’s largest medical school accreditor is phasing out its guidance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the organization said on March 25.
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), in an update to its website this month, published standards for the 2027–2028 academic year that, unlike those for the coming academic year, do not reference “diversity, bias, or inequities.”
The committee confirmed the change in an email to The Epoch Times, noting that the decision to eliminate diversity programs and partnerships was made during the current academic year. The LCME did not issue a formal announcement about its new policies.
The organization’s medical school standards for 2026–2027 still reference “the importance of health care disparities and health inequities.”
Do No Harm, a medical school watchdog organization that opposes DEI initiatives, applauded the change and commended the liaison committee for responding to its concerns. Leaders from Do No Harm previously wrote editorials in national newspapers calling on doctor training programs to prioritize merit over discrimination. It also says it pushed President Donald Trump to break up the medical school accreditation monopoly.
“This reflects a renewed commitment to high-quality clinical care over political ideology,“ Dr. Kurt Miceli, Do No Harm chief medical officer, said in an email to The Epoch Times. ”As a powerful institution with significant influence over medical education, the LCME has now made it clear that scientific rigor and excellence are the top priorities—a change we have been advocating for years.”
“This marks a major victory and step forward in the ongoing battle over the future of medical education in America,“ he said. ”Do No Harm will continue to hold accountable the LCME, accrediting bodies, and medical schools until all traces of biased political ideology are eradicated.”
In May, the Department of Education sent a “dear colleague” letter to leaders at colleges and universities, including medical schools, reminding them that DEI practices are discriminatory and illegal. The letter also said it is accelerating the process for higher learning institutions to switch accreditors, noting that requests would be expedited with minimal scrutiny of why the school wants to make the change.
The letter called out the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the American Bar Association by name.
The LCME, which is jointly sponsored by the American Medical Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges, sets and maintains industry standards for doctor training programs through a peer-review process. Its 21-member voting staff includes 17 who are either medical educators or practicing physicians and two medical students, according to its website.
More than 150 medical schools in 44 states and the District of Columbia are currently accredited by that organization, including Harvard, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Yale, and the University of Florida.
