Antisemitism and anti-Israel Displays at American Medical School Commencement Ceremonies in 2024

Introduction. Antisemitism has been increasing in U.S. medicine since the Hamas attack on Israel of October 7, 2023. This included anecdotal reports of antisemitic and anti-Israel displays at medical school commencements. We studied such behavior at the 25 top-ranked U.S. medical schools’ commencements in 2024, which has significance given these graduates are expected to be future leaders. Materials and Methods. Based on publicly-available videotaped 2024 commencements, we determined the number of students in the graduating classes wearing regalia, or carrying signs, wearing buttons, or engaging in verbal protests related to the Israel-terror groups conflict and which were either openly antisemitic, anti-Israel, or could be perceived as offensive or insensitive. Results. At 2024 commencements, symbols representing antisemitic themes (keffiyehs and 3-part graduation stoles conveying antisemitic messages) were worn by students at just under half (12) of the schools. The mean number of students in each school wearing keffiyehs or these stoles was 4.0 (95% confidence interval, CI = 2.2-5.8), ranging from 0-13% of the classes, or 2.5% of the overall graduating cohort. The wearing of buttons, carrying banners, signs, verbal protests interrupting the ceremony, or with students deviating from script ranged from 0-22.5% of graduating students, with a mean of 2.7 per school (95% CI -0.8-6.2), or 1.7% of the graduating cohort. Conclusions. We identified new behavior at commencements of top-ranked medical schools comprised of antisemitism, anti-Israel displays, and displaying offensive and insensitive symbols and messaging. There is an urgent need for medical schools in the U.S. to educate medical trainees about the dangers of antisemitism and all forms of hate and insensitivity.