Temple medical school renames DEI office but vows core mission will 'continue without interruption'

While many colleges have been shutting down DEI centers since January to comply with President Trump's executive orders, Temple University’s medical school is simultaneously rebranding its diversity, equity and inclusion center and doubling down on its commitment to equity.

Faculty, staff and students were notified last week in an email obtained by The Center Square that the university’s Katz School of Medicine would be changing the name of its Office of Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion to the Office of Strategic Partnership in Healthcare Education and Resources (SPHERE).

“This new name reflects an expanded, school-wide commitment to advancing equity in the places where we learn, teach, discover, and care,” the email reads.

The missive also explained that though references to the former DEI office around campus and online will now “transition” to SPHERE, “the team’s core work” is not changing. 

“The education and training, community partnerships, student and trainee support, faculty development, and data-informed equity initiatives” formerly accomplished by the DEI office will “continue without interruption,” under SPHERE, reads the email, signed by Marjorie Joy Katz Dean Amy Goldberg, senior associate dean of health equity Abiona Berkeley and associate dean of health equity Andrew Sanderson.

The Center for Accountability in Medicine – a project under the group Do No Harm and whose stated mission includes drawing attention to "identity politics" in medical schools – thinks Temple's medical school appears to have made only a name change. 

"Racial favoritism is a drug that many medical schools can't seem to quit, project Director Ian Kingsbury said.

He also said: “Whether it's defying the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action or defying executive orders on DEI, these institutions seem to have no regard for the law or popular will."

The school's email also stated: “The same colleagues you rely on will keep supporting you and your programs, while strengthening collaborations across Temple Health and Temple University."

The email additionally stated that the medical school’s new office’s name ”underscores our shared belief that equity is not a single office or initiative; it’s the environment we create together.”

Recently, the Katz School received an overall D grade from Do No Harm’s new medical school index that ranks according to “academic excellence, transparency, and rejection of DEI.”

Last year, Temple University faced a lawsuit from Do No Harm for planning to hold an event only open to “educators who identify as Black, Indigenous and people of color,” as The Center Square reported. In the end, Temple opened up the event to white staff as well.

Since executive orders from Trump in January calling for the “termination” of diversity, equity and inclusion “in the Federal Government,” many medical schools have been shuttering or sometimes simply renaming their DEI offices, as The Center Square reported.