Implicit bias, discrimination, and systemic racism

have long affected the field of medicine, a challenge

that persists to this day. Addressing these important
issues and advocating for equity, inclusion, and
diversity in medical education and health care is one
of our primary objectives at the Kaiser Permanente
Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine.

To fulfill this mission, we have adopted equity,

inclusion, and diversity as core principles of the
medical education we provide, and these principles
guide the work of our entire school community. This
includes creating a curriculum that embraces anti-
racism practices and principles of equity and
inclusion throughout. It also entails providing faculty,
staff, and leadership training in these areas, as well
as in implicit bias, microaggressions, having
challenging conversations, and other important
aspects.

We also believe in the fundamental value of diversity

of thought, life experiences, race, ethnicity, age,
gender, sexual orientation, language, abilities,
veteran status, socioeconomic background, and
other characteristics. This is reflected in the variety
of backgrounds within our student body, and we are
proud of that. Forty-six percent of our third class of
students, who entered in July 2022, are from groups
that are underrepresented in medicine – Black,
Latinx, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander communities
– which is more than double the national level.
Additionally, KPSOM has one of the most diverse
faculty in the country, with more than double the
percentage of Black and Latinx faculty compared to
the national average of medical school faculty.

We are proud of the community we have at our

school, and we continue to welcome ongoing,
important conversations about racism in medicine.
We encourage our faculty to share their personal
experiences and observations regarding anti-racism
and equity, inclusion, and diversity and weave them
into class discussions on the curriculum.

Regarding Dr. Aysha Khoury, one of the founders of

the Black Doc Village organization, the school has
been clear that Dr. Khoury was not placed on leave
because she brought content related to anti-racism
to the classroom or because she shared her
experiences as a Black woman in medicine. Last
week, we submitted evidence to the court setting
forth the school’s position on some elements of the
litigation.

As an educational institution, we are driven by the

belief that one must continually learn, listen, and
grow. We have incorporated this into our own
development from the time we opened our doors in
July 2020 and continue to do so as we grow and
remain committed to changing medicine for the
better.

Quick Facts:
 KPSOM has one of the most diverse faculty in

the country, with more than double the

percentage of Black and Latinx faculty
compared to the national average of medical
school faculty.
 Forty-six percent of the KPSOM’s third class of

students, who entered in July 2022, are from

groups that are underrepresented in medicine –
Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander
communities – which is more than double the
national level.
 KPSOM adopted equity, inclusion, and diversity

as core principles of the medical education we

provide, and these principles guide the work of
our entire school community.
 KPSOM has a curriculum that embraces anti-

racism practices and principles of equity and

inclusion throughout, including providing faculty,
staff, and leadership training in these areas, as
well as in implicit bias, microaggressions, having
 challenging conversations, and other important
aspects.

We were surprised to learn of the recent legal action

brought by our former faculty member, Dr. Derrick
Morton. When Dr. Morton provided notice of his
resignation after receiving an offer from USC, we
offered to put together a retention package for him to
stay with us. Dr. Morton chose to accept the position
at USC but to also continue working at the school for
an additional four months until the start of his new
position. While we were disappointed that he chose
to leave our school, we congratulated him on
wonderful opportunity he was provided at USC.
Our Black faculty hold most of the leadership
positions on our Faculty Advisory Council and are
well represented on the school’s other committees.
Our Black faculty are among the most involved at
the school. This included Dr Morton, who served as
one of the inaugural members of the school’s Equity,
Inclusion, and Diversity Advisory Committee, prior to
leaving our faculty.
We strongly disagree with the allegations and
characterization of events in the complaint. Because
this is an active legal matter, the school will not
comment further at this time.