The first report from the StandWithUs data and analytics department showed that 39.2% of Jewish doctors and medical professionals surveyed by the organization had experienced direct exposure to antisemitism in their professional or academic environments.
Additionally, 26.4% said that antisemitic incidents made them feel unsafe or threatened.
The peer-reviewed study, “Antisemitism in American Healthcare: A Survey Study of Reported Experiences,” surveyed 645 self-identifying Jewish healthcare professionals, 74% of whom were physicians.
It was published on Dec. 11 by the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
The report revealed that only 1.9% of participants said such training at their institutions included content on antisemitism, despite widespread anti-bias training in health-care organizations.
“This study represents the experiences of health-care professionals from 32 states, offering critical insights into the pervasiveness of antisemitism in our profession,” said Dr. Kelly Michelson, co-author of the study. “It is imperative for medical institutions to incorporate training that confronts antisemitism to ensure the safety and inclusivity of all healthcare professionals.”
Alexandra Fishman, founding director of the StandWithUs Data and Analytics Department, oversaw the study and analyzed its findings. “This groundbreaking pilot study aims to understand the prevalence and impact of bigotry against Jews in health care,” she said. “It is deeply troubling when nearly 40% of respondents indicate they have personally experienced or witnessed antisemitism in their places of work.”
“This resurgence of hatred and discrimination requires both further study and immediate action by leaders in the medical field,” she said.
Dr. Sheri Ross, the other co-author of the study, said “health-care organizations have a moral imperative to create a zero-tolerance environment for any form of discrimination. The lack of attention given to antisemitism in anti-bias training is a glaring omission that must be rectified to protect both professionals and patients.”
