Federal Policy Changes and Online Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Content Among US Medical Schools

How did US medical schools present diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their public websites during a period of legal and policy changes?In this cohort study of 195 allopathic and osteopathic schools, public DEI language was frequently removed or replaced over time, with substantial shifts observed between May, July, and September of 2025. Higher proportions of MD-granting schools maintained DEI content, while higher proportions of those in states with DEI bans removed it.These results suggest that medical schools changed messaging during a period of extensive external pressures, raising concerns about improving health care for all.

Corresponding Author: Michelle Ko, MD, PhD, University of California, Davis, Medical Sciences 1C, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616 (mijko@health.ucdavis.edu).

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