Conservative activists are now focusing their efforts on a long-standing federal scholarship initiative aimed at supporting Native Hawaiian students who aspire to enter healthcare professions, particularly in areas of Hawaii that lack medical resources.
Do No Harm, a Virginia-based organization advocating for healthcare professionals with an emphasis on eliminating identity politics from medical education and practice, initiated a federal lawsuit last week against the U.S. Department of Health concerning the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP).
The lawsuit includes several individuals from Do No Harm, notably a white woman who plans to enroll in a nursing program this fall, along with two other non-Native Hawaiian candidates who have shown interest in obtaining the scholarship, as detailed in the legal filing.
In a press release regarding the lawsuit, Do No Harm claimed that the scholarship’s stipulation that applicants must be “Native Hawaiians” infringes upon federal laws and constitutes “racial discrimination.”
“The continuation of this program, despite efforts by the current administration to rectify such issues, highlights the pervasive nature of institutional racial discrimination,” the statement asserted. “Our legal action against the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program aims to ensure that deserving applicants can compete for the financial support this scholarship offers.”
In response to the lawsuit, Papa Ola Lōkahi, the nonprofit organization overseeing the scholarship, affirmed its commitment to its mission despite the ongoing legal issues. Dr. Sheri Daniels, the organization’s CEO, remarked, “Attempts to dismantle programs like this overlook both the historical significance and the pressing need for equitable healthcare access throughout Hawaii. These scholars will be the future healers of our communities, enhancing the health of everyone.”
The NHHSP was launched in 1988 under the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act, with the goal of improving healthcare outcomes for Native Hawaiians. Scholarship recipients are obligated to serve at least two years in medically underserved regions of Hawaii.
According to information from Papa Ola Lōkahi’s website, over 330 scholarships have been distributed to students across 20 different medical professions as part of the program.
In an interview with the Honolulu Civil Beat, Dr. Daniels emphasized the significance of having Native Hawaiian healthcare providers serving Native Hawaiian patients. “Seeing someone who resembles you, whether in a white coat or during therapy sessions, can significantly impact the experience,” she noted.
This lawsuit against the NHHSP is the latest in a series of legal actions taken by Do No Harm against various healthcare initiatives. Earlier this year, the organization filed a complaint with the U.S. health department, alleging that Corewell Health, Texas Tech, and HCA Healthcare prioritized foreign-trained physicians over those trained in the United States within their internal medicine residency programs.
Legal challenges regarding educational diversity programs have also affected other Hawaiian educational enterprises. The Kamehameha Schools, a private institution founded with the legacy of Hawaiian princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, was created to enhance educational outcomes for Native Hawaiians.
In October, the right-wing nonprofit Students for Fair Admissions, responsible for the Supreme Court case that overturned race-based admissions, filed a lawsuit against the Kamehameha Schools, alleging that their admissions policy unfairly favors students of Native Hawaiian descent over those who are non-Native Hawaiian.
The public interest journalism relies on firsthand accounts from knowledgeable sources. If you have relevant information to share regarding this topic, you can reach out to us confidentially through various methods.
The Guardian app includes a feature for securely sending tips about stories. All messages are encrypted and blend in with the regular functions of the app, making it difficult for any observer to detect that you are communicating with us.
If you haven’t installed the Guardian app yet, you can download it for iOS or Android, then navigate to the menu and select ‘Secure Messaging’.
Our guide at theguardian.com/tips outlines several secure ways to contact us and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
