Whew! Johns Hopkins Medicine’s chief diversity officer, Dr. Sherita Golden, has decided to step down from her position following backlash over comments made in a newsletter.
The controversy arose when Dr. Golden referred to Christians, males, heterosexuals, middle class and English speaking people among those as “privileged” in a monthly communication, according to WMAR 2. The newsletter in question sparked criticism from various quarters, including Maryland Congressman Andy Harris and Donald Trump Jr., who labeled it as racist and indicative of a larger issue of discrimination in higher education institutions.
After much reflection, Dr. Golden made the decision to resign from her role as chief diversity officer and will now shift her focus to diabetes research as a faculty member at the hospital. Dr. Golden also issued an apology for her choice of words, acknowledging that the language used was not in line with the inclusive community values she sought to promote. “The intent of the newsletter is to inform and support an inclusive community at Hopkins, but the language of this definition clearly did not meet that goal,” she wrote. “In fact, because it was overly simplistic and poorly worded, it had the opposite effect,” she continued. “I retract and disavow the definition I shared and I am sorry.”
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The announcement of her resignation was met with mixed reactions, with the hospital expressing appreciation for her contributions while also respecting her choice to step down.
Despite the controversy surrounding Dr. Golden’s departure, Johns Hopkins Medicine reaffirmed its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and health equity. The hospital emphasized its dedication to addressing health disparities and fostering a diverse workforce to better serve the communities it operates in.
The hospital said it will “continue to address health disparities and increase retention and recruitment of diverse talent, all in service of the richly diverse communities we serve. Indeed, the diversity of our institution is, and will always be, among our greatest strengths, and directly supports our continued leadership in medicine. This work takes courage, and we are profoundly grateful to Dr. Golden for her grace under pressure, her poise in the face of adversity, and her dedication to the mission and work of ODIHE.”
As the search for Dr. Golden’s replacement begins, Inez Stewart, the chief human resources officer, will temporarily assume the responsibilities of the chief diversity officer role.