US, Canadian healthcare failing to address rising antisemitism since Oct. 7, review says

A new peer-reviewed review finds antisemitism in healthcare has risen sharply since Hamas's October 7 attack, yet fewer than 2% of surveyed institutions include antisemitism education in anti-discrimination training. A US survey shows 88% of Jewish medical students and physicians experienced antisemitism since October 7, up from 40% before. In Canada, 98% of Jewish medical professionals now view it as a severe problem, versus 1% before. Authors Dr. Hedy Wald and Dr. Steven Roth urge institutions to treat it as a central issue.

A new peer-reviewed narrative review, 'Anatomy of Antisemitism in Health Professions Education and Practice,' finds that antisemitism in healthcare has risen significantly since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, yet fewer than 2% of surveyed healthcare institutions have incorporated education about antisemitism into anti-discrimination training. The review synthesizes evidence from multiple countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, covering medicine, psychology, nursing, and social work. It cites a US survey showing 88% of Jewish medical students and physicians reported experiencing antisemitism since October 7, compared to 40% before. In Canada, 98% of 1,000 surveyed Jewish medical professionals now view antisemitism as a severe problem, versus 1% before. The review highlights recurring themes of harassment, social isolation, and exclusion, and notes a PubMed search returned only 61 records on antisemitism in healthcare, versus 732 for DEI and 3,824 for racism. Authors Dr. Hedy S. Wald and Dr. Steven Roth stress the need for education, engagement, empathy, and enforcement, and call on healthcare leaders to address the issue. The American Jewish Medical Association (AJMA) commended the publication, with CEO Eveline Shekhman stating it will be used to push for accountability.