As federal efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs accelerate, a new commentary warns that such actions will not benefit Asian Americans in health care—and may, in fact, harm them. Despite claims that DEI discriminates against Asian Americans, the authors argue there is no evidence to support this.
Asian Americans are overrepresented in many health professions, including medicine and pharmacy, and have higher representation among medical students than their share of the applicant pool. Yet, they still face persistent barriers. Asian American health care workers report harassment and discrimination, and Filipinx nurses were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 mortality due to their placement in high-risk roles.
The authors highlight that DEI programs have not caused harm to Asian Americans, but they also haven’t addressed the unique challenges they face. “Asian Americans could potentially benefit from more, not less, engagement in DEI,” they write, citing surveys showing Asian American medical students want greater inclusion.
The commentary also critiques how Asian Americans have been used politically to oppose DEI, often by invoking the “model minority” myth or pitting them against other marginalized groups. This tactic, the authors argue, undermines solidarity and distracts from systemic inequities.
With federal agencies cutting DEI funding and canceling programs aimed at minority health, the authors warn that the health and rights of all communities are at risk. “The false narrative that DEI programs ‘harm’ Asian Americans erases the struggles within our own communities,” they conclude.
See: “Ending DEI Programs Will Not Help Asian Americans In Health Care” (June 6, 2025)
