Johns Hopkins Medicine is navigating a period of intense scrutiny regarding its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives following the resignation of its Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. Dr. Sherita Golden stepped down from her position after a wave of criticism sparked by a hospital newsletter she authored in January. The newsletter’s definition of “privilege” ignited a conservative backlash, thrusting Johns Hopkins Medicine and its diversity programs into the national spotlight.
The controversy began when Dr. Golden’s newsletter defined “privilege” as “a set of unearned benefits given to people who are in a specific social group.” The newsletter further identified groups such as white people, heterosexuals, men, cisgender individuals, and Christians as examples of privileged subgroups. This definition, intended to foster inclusivity and understanding within Johns Hopkins Medicine, instead triggered significant opposition when it was shared widely on social media.
U.S. Representative Andy Harris, Maryland’s sole Republican Congressman, publicly condemned Dr. Golden’s memo, labeling it as “racist” and demanding her termination. His statement amplified the criticism, attracting further attention from prominent figures like Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk. Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), reposted the controversial definition with the emphatic caption, “This must end!” This widespread condemnation online quickly escalated the issue beyond internal discussions at Johns Hopkins.
In response to the growing furor, Johns Hopkins Medicine leadership, including Dean of the Medical Faculty and CEO Dr. Theodore DeWeese, and President of Johns Hopkins Health System Kevin Sowers, issued an email to employees. This email stated that Dr. Golden’s comments were “counter to the values of our institution and mission.” However, this response itself provoked further internal discord. Hundreds of faculty and staff members rallied to Dr. Golden’s defense, sending a letter to DeWeese and Sowers expressing their support. Their letter criticized the leadership’s email, arguing it “demonstrates a lack of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion” and failed to acknowledge the critical need to address existing inequities within their community.
Despite the backlash and subsequent resignation from her leadership role, Dr. Golden remains a professor of endocrinology and metabolism at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She issued an apology acknowledging that the newsletter’s language “clearly did not meet” its goal of promoting inclusivity. Dr. Golden admitted the definition was “overly simplistic and poorly worded,” resulting in an “exclusionary and hurtful” impact on members of the Johns Hopkins community.
Following Dr. Golden’s resignation, the Black Faculty and Staff Association for Johns Hopkins voiced their deep concern. In a letter to university president Ronald J. Daniels, they stated that her departure “leaves a significant void within our institution.” The association further argued that Johns Hopkins “unjustly disavowed and repudiated her for the very work that she had been tasked to do,” highlighting the complexities and sensitivities surrounding diversity and inclusion initiatives within major institutions like Johns Hopkins Medicine. The ongoing debate underscores the challenges of effectively communicating and implementing DEI principles in a diverse and often polarized society.
