Advocacy group urges federal review, citing Supreme Court rulings on discrimination in education
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A nonprofit organization opposing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in medical education has filed a formal request urging federal authorities to review the tax-exempt status of a scholarship program affiliated with the American Medical Association, according to a complaint submitted April 8.
The group, Do No Harm, petitioned the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether the American Medical Association Foundation is in violation of federal law through its Physicians of Tomorrow scholarship program, which the organization argues uses race or ethnicity as eligibility criteria. The request, detailed in a filing available through Do No Harm and reported by The Epoch Times, alleges that certain awards within the program restrict applicants based on racial or ethnic background.
According to the complaint, specific scholarships include a $5,000 award designated for Black or African American applicants, a $10,000 award open only to Black, Hispanic, or Indigenous applicants, and another $10,000 award limited to individuals of Eastern European descent.
Kurt Miceli, chief medical officer of Do No Harm, stated that such criteria undermine legal standards and public trust. “Racially discriminatory scholarships are unlawful and morally wrong, to say nothing of the negative impact they have on public confidence in our medical system,” Miceli said in a statement. He added that eligibility for educational opportunities should not be determined by race and urged the foundation to revise its policies if it intends to maintain federal tax benefits.
The Physicians of Tomorrow program, described in the foundation’s annual report, distributed approximately $420,000 in scholarships last year and has awarded a cumulative total of $62 million to medical students since its inception in 1950. The same report noted the launch of a 2025 initiative aimed at increasing diversity within the physician workforce.
Do No Harm’s filing references recent legal precedent, including a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that barred the use of race in college admissions decisions. It also cites the 1983 Supreme Court decision involving Bob Jones University, in which the court upheld the revocation of the institution’s tax-exempt status due to discriminatory practices.
In that case, the court determined that the Internal Revenue Service has authority to deny or revoke tax-exempt status for organizations that act contrary to established public policy. Bob Jones University later regained its tax-exempt status in 2017 after operating as a for-profit institution for several decades.
Under federal law, organizations granted 501(c)(3) status are exempt from certain taxes, and contributions made to them may be tax-deductible. The IRS requires that such organizations operate exclusively for charitable, educational, or similar purposes, with revenues directed toward program activities rather than private gain.
If the IRS proceeds with action based on the complaint, it must conduct an audit and notify the organization before making any determination regarding its tax status. The process includes administrative review steps before any dispute may advance to federal court.
The Internal Revenue Service has not publicly commented on the complaint.
Original article
Comments