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As antisemitism persists at alarming rates across the US and around the world, Hadassah leaders and members continue to be at the forefront of fighting against hatred, including in the healthcare arena. Hadassah’s relentless advocacy to combat antisemitism is having an impact.
In September, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights issued critical guidance, clarifying that federal civil rights law protects Jewish and Israeli patients, students and professionals from discrimination across healthcare settings, medical education and clinical training. Hadassah joined ADL, AJMA, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, StandWithUs, CCA and JFNA in a statement welcoming the guidance that makes clear discrimination has no place in our nation's healthcare system.
Hadassah members are continuing to speak out and bring public attention and awareness to this issue, including engaging with members of Congress and the Administration, facilitating dialogue between American and Israeli health professionals and working to oppose efforts to isolate and demonize Jewish health workers in professional associations.
Documenting Antisemitism in Health Professions and Education
Hadassah life member Dr. Hedy S. Wald, with co-author Dr. Steven Roth, conducted the first systematic review of antisemitism across health professions and found that almost 90 percent of Jewish medical students and professionals report experiencing antisemitism.
Their report, "Anatomy of Antisemitism in Health Professions Education and Practice: A Narrative Review," examined evidence from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
The report found that antisemitism in healthcare remains largely unaddressed. Fewer than 2 percent of US institutions incorporate the issue of bias and bigotry against Jews into their educational programming.
Dr. Wald and Dr. Roth underscore this rise in indifference to hate: “We conducted this research to ensure that healthcare leaders and policymakers recognize the scale and scope of this problem and take necessary steps to address it.”
Speaking Out Against Exclusion
In August, Hadassah National President Carol Ann Schwartz and Hadassah Medical Organization Director General Prof. Yoram Weiss, MD, wrote a letter to The Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals, condemning an antisemitic proposal to expel the Israeli Medical Association from the World Medical Association.
“Hadassah's hospitals have long been a bridge to peace for patients and practitioners of every race, religion, or nationality . . . Attempts to politicise medicine derail potentially lifesaving collaboration among health-care professionals, compromise global health and, ultimately, harm countless patients,” wrote Schwartz and Weiss.
Advancing Inclusion in Health Professional Associations
In August, the American Psychological Association (APA) postponed a vote for the second time on the Association of Jewish Psychologists’ application for formal recognition as an ethnic psychology group. This sparked nationwide concerns about antisemitism and Jewish inclusion at the institutional level. Hadassah has been an active member of the coalition of groups pushing for recognition and inclusion of Jewish voices at APA.
Hate has no place in healthcare. Hadassah members speak out against discrimination that threatens Jewish healthcare professionals, students and patients and compromises our medical institutions’ standards of care.
What You Can Do
Urge Congress to address antisemitism in healthcare by signing Hadassah’s current National Action Center petition.
Learn More About Dr. Wald’s Study on Antisemitism in Health Professions.
Read Carol Ann Scwartz and Dr. Yoram Weiss’ letter in The Lancet.
Learn More About Hadassah’s Advocacy Efforts to Combat Antisemitism in Healthcare
