US Medical Schools’ 2024 Commencements and Antisemitism: Addressing Unprofessional Behavior
Introduction: Antisemitism and antisemitic incidents have been increasing in United States medical institutions since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. Such incidents include anecdotal reports of antisemitic displays at medical school commencements. This study examined unprofessional behavior obs...
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Rambam Health Care Campus
2025-01-01
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| author | Steven Roth Hedy S. Wald |
| author_facet | Steven Roth Hedy S. Wald |
| author_sort | Steven Roth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Antisemitism and antisemitic incidents have been increasing in United States medical institutions since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. Such incidents include anecdotal reports of antisemitic displays at medical school commencements. This study examined unprofessional behavior observed at the commencement ceremonies of the 25 US medical schools top-ranked for research excellence. This issue is significant since these graduates are expected to become future leaders in the field of medicine.
Materials and Methods: Based on publicly available videotaped commencements, we assessed the number of students in the graduating classes wearing non-school-provided regalia, carrying signs, wearing protest buttons, or engaging in verbal protests related to the Israel–terror groups conflict that were either openly antisemitic or potentially offensive or insensitive.
Results: Symbols representing antisemitic themes (keffiyehs and three-part graduation stoles conveying antisemitic messages) were worn by students at just under half (12) of the medical schools. The mean number of students in each school wearing keffiyehs or non-official school stoles was 4.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2–5.8), ranging from 0%–13% of the classes, or 2.5% of the overall graduating cohort. The wearing of buttons, carrying of banners or signs, verbal protests interrupting the ceremony, or students deviating from script ranged from 0% to 22.5% of graduating students, with a mean of 2.7 per school (95% CI -0.8–6.2), or 1.7% of the medical schools graduating cohort.
Conclusions: We identified unprofessional behavior at commencements of top-ranked medical schools consisting of antisemitism and displaying offensive and insensitive symbols and messaging. There is an urgent need for medical schools in the US to educate medical trainees about the dangers of antisemitism and all forms of hate and insensitivity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ee89b80e87084cc9883a9a9b23e408a8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-9172 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Rambam Health Care Campus |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-ee89b80e87084cc9883a9a9b23e408a82025-01-30T08:25:05ZengRambam Health Care CampusRambam Maimonides Medical Journal2076-91722025-01-01161e000110.5041/RMMJ.10537US Medical Schools’ 2024 Commencements and Antisemitism: Addressing Unprofessional BehaviorSteven Roth0Hedy S. Wald1Michael Reese Professor of Anesthesiology and Vice Head for Research and Faculty Affairs, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Illinois College of Medicine; Professor Emeritus, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USAClinical Professor of Family Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Family Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USAIntroduction: Antisemitism and antisemitic incidents have been increasing in United States medical institutions since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. Such incidents include anecdotal reports of antisemitic displays at medical school commencements. This study examined unprofessional behavior observed at the commencement ceremonies of the 25 US medical schools top-ranked for research excellence. This issue is significant since these graduates are expected to become future leaders in the field of medicine. Materials and Methods: Based on publicly available videotaped commencements, we assessed the number of students in the graduating classes wearing non-school-provided regalia, carrying signs, wearing protest buttons, or engaging in verbal protests related to the Israel–terror groups conflict that were either openly antisemitic or potentially offensive or insensitive. Results: Symbols representing antisemitic themes (keffiyehs and three-part graduation stoles conveying antisemitic messages) were worn by students at just under half (12) of the medical schools. The mean number of students in each school wearing keffiyehs or non-official school stoles was 4.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2–5.8), ranging from 0%–13% of the classes, or 2.5% of the overall graduating cohort. The wearing of buttons, carrying of banners or signs, verbal protests interrupting the ceremony, or students deviating from script ranged from 0% to 22.5% of graduating students, with a mean of 2.7 per school (95% CI -0.8–6.2), or 1.7% of the medical schools graduating cohort. Conclusions: We identified unprofessional behavior at commencements of top-ranked medical schools consisting of antisemitism and displaying offensive and insensitive symbols and messaging. There is an urgent need for medical schools in the US to educate medical trainees about the dangers of antisemitism and all forms of hate and insensitivity.https://www.rmmj.org.il/issues/65/1948/manuscriptactivismantisemitismcommencementhumanitiesprofessionalismregalia |
| spellingShingle | Steven Roth Hedy S. Wald US Medical Schools’ 2024 Commencements and Antisemitism: Addressing Unprofessional Behavior Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal activism antisemitism commencement humanities professionalism regalia |
| title | US Medical Schools’ 2024 Commencements and Antisemitism: Addressing Unprofessional Behavior |
| title_full | US Medical Schools’ 2024 Commencements and Antisemitism: Addressing Unprofessional Behavior |
| title_fullStr | US Medical Schools’ 2024 Commencements and Antisemitism: Addressing Unprofessional Behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | US Medical Schools’ 2024 Commencements and Antisemitism: Addressing Unprofessional Behavior |
| title_short | US Medical Schools’ 2024 Commencements and Antisemitism: Addressing Unprofessional Behavior |
| title_sort | us medical schools 2024 commencements and antisemitism addressing unprofessional behavior |
| topic | activism antisemitism commencement humanities professionalism regalia |
| url | https://www.rmmj.org.il/issues/65/1948/manuscript |
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