Pfizer reportedly amended its criteria for a coveted fellowship program accused of discriminating against Asian and white applicants.
The “quiet” change, which was reported by Do No Harm this week, comes as the Virginia-based nonprofit moves to appeal a federal court’s rejection of its lawsuit against the pharmaceutical giant.
Composed of medical professionals, Do No Harm sued Pfizer in September for allegedly discriminating against Asian and white applicants in its Breakthrough Fellowship Program. The nine-year commitment begins with a 10-week internship for college seniors and culminates in employment with the company after a fully funded master’s degree.
The program previously stated that applicants must “meet the program’s goals of increasing the pipeline for Black/African American, Latino/Hispanic and Native Americans.”
This led to Do No Harm’s suit, which cited two unidentified Ivy League students who supposedly met the fellowship’s academic requirements but ultimately failed to apply due to their race.
With this, Do No Harm claimed that Pfizer has violated several federal and state laws. These include the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which prohibits racial discrimination in contracting; Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination among entities that receive federal funding; Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in healthcare programs that receive federal funding; and human rights laws in New York State and New York City, which prohibit racial discrimination in internships, training programs and employment.
However, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon in Manhattan ruled in December that Do No Harm failed to demonstrate a legal standing against Pfizer as it would not identify the two student plaintiffs. Even if they were identified, the nonprofit submitted “little to no details about their career and educational goals, employment history, or interests.”
Do No Harm…
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