Johns Hopkins chief diversity officer steps down months after calling men, white people ‘privileged’
Johns Hopkins Medicine’s chief diversity officer has stepped down just months after receiving massive blowback for sending out a newsletter calling men, Christians and white people “privileged.”
Dr. Sherita Golden has resigned from her role after a “great deal of reflection” and will now be focusing on diabetes research as a faculty member, the hospital announced Tuesday.
She will remain as a professor of endocrinology and metabolism at the hospital, according to WMAR 2.
“She has been a valuable member of the Johns Hopkins Medicine leadership team, and, like many of you, we wanted her to stay in her role, but we respect her decision,” the hospital said in a message, according to Fox News.
“As Dr. Golden transitions to her diabetes research as a faculty member, we remain unwavering in our commitment to the principles and values of diversity, inclusion and health equity.”
Her resignation comes just months after she came under fire for using offensive language in a monthly newsletter where she labeled white, Christians, heterosexuals, middle-class, and English-speaking people “privileged.”
Her and the hospital faced a mountain of criticism after its release, including from Maryland Congressman Andy Harris, who said the newsletter was a “racist memo.”
Donald Trump Jr. also criticized the decision, saying: “The rot and racism in higher education goes so much further Harvard, MIT, and Penn (my alma mater) it has taken over virtually every institution and needs to end now.”
Golden apologized for her comments, saying she “deeply regrets” making them.
“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.”
The hospital never publicly apologized, nor was Golden reprimanded for the newsletter.
Since Golden’s announcement, the hospital said it will still “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.”
While the hospital searches for Golden’s replacement, Inez Stewart – the chief human resources officer – will serve in the role.
