Protect DEI in Philadelphia's Scientific Community
Supporters of the Sciences and DEI
Protect Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Philadelphia’s Scientific Community
To the Leadership of the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Drexel University, Temple University, Thomas Jefferson University, and other academic and scientific research institutions in the Philadelphia area,
We, the undersigned faculty, researchers, students, healthcare professionals, and community members, call on you to reaffirm and strengthen your commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the face of federal attempts to dismantle these critical programs. We urge you to publicly pledge your continued investment in DEI programs, policies, and funding.
DEI programs are not just beneficial—they are essential. Academia has long excluded women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, those with disabilities, and low-income communities, creating systemic barriers to access and advancement. Yet diversity strengthens science and medicine. The Trump Administration’s rollback of DEI initiatives threatens decades of progress. Without strong institutional leadership, we risk deepening disparities in research, healthcare, and education.
Maintaining and expanding DEI programs at our institutions will safeguard opportunities for historically marginalized groups, foster a more equitable and effective scientific workforce, and uphold the ethical and social responsibilities of academia. We call on Philadelphia’s leading academic and medical institutions to stand firm against federal rollbacks by ensuring that DEI remains a core pillar of their mission, funding, and policies.
It is critical to take decisive action immediately, because silence in this moment risks irreversible setbacks to equity in science and medicine. We urge you to publicly commit to protecting and advancing DEI efforts, resisting external pressures that seek to undermine them. The future of inclusive and impactful research depends on it.
Sponsored by
To:
Supporters of the Sciences and DEI
From:
Tim Brown
Protect Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Philadelphia’s Scientific Community
To the Leadership of the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Drexel University, Temple University, Thomas Jefferson University, and other academic and scientific research institutions in the Philadelphia area,
We, the undersigned faculty, researchers, students, healthcare professionals, and community members, call on you to reaffirm and strengthen your commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the face of federal attempts to dismantle these critical programs. We urge you to publicly pledge your continued investment in DEI programs, policies, and funding.
DEI programs are not just beneficial—they are essential. Academia has long excluded women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, those with disabilities, and low-income communities, creating systemic barriers to access and advancement. Yet diversity strengthens science and medicine. The Trump Administration’s rollback of DEI initiatives threatens decades of progress. Without strong institutional leadership, we risk deepening disparities in research, healthcare, and education.
Maintaining and expanding DEI programs at our institutions will safeguard opportunities for historically marginalized groups, foster a more equitable and effective scientific workforce, and uphold the ethical and social responsibilities of academia. We call on Philadelphia’s leading academic and medical institutions to stand firm against federal rollbacks by ensuring that DEI remains a core pillar of their mission, funding, and policies.
It is critical to take decisive action immediately, because silence in this moment risks irreversible setbacks to equity in science and medicine. We urge you to publicly commit to protecting and advancing DEI efforts, resisting external pressures that seek to undermine them. The future of inclusive and impactful research depends on it.