UAB Cancels Herschell Lee Hamilton Scholarship for Black Medical Students

News Summary

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has canceled the Herschell Lee Hamilton Scholarship for Black medical students amid a federal investigation into race-based scholarships. The decision follows a lawsuit alleging discriminatory practices, leading UAB to return scholarship funds. Critics express concern over potential negative impacts on healthcare access for underrepresented communities. The scholarship, initiated in 2013, was intended to support Black medical students and honor Dr. Herschell Lee Hamilton’s legacy in medicine and civil rights.

UAB Cancels Herschell Lee Hamilton Scholarship for Black Medical Students Amid Federal Investigation

Birmingham, Alabama – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has officially canceled the Herschell Lee Hamilton, M.D., Endowed Scholarship in Medicine, following a federal investigation led by the Trump administration that highlighted concerns over race-based scholarships. The scholarship, established in 2013, was designed to support Black students pursuing medical education by covering tuition costs, provided they maintained a 3.0 GPA and exhibited financial need.

On April 11, 2025, UAB notified its donors of the discontinuation of the scholarship and the decision to return the funds, which came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Equal Protection Project, a conservative organization supported by the federal government. This lawsuit accused the scholarship program of discriminatory practices based on race, prompting scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR), which was investigating several colleges for similar allegations.

Government Allegations and University Compliance

In February 2025, the OCR launched its investigation into UAB and five other colleges, questioning the legality of race-based scholarships and practices deemed as race-based segregation. UAB’s Office of Advancement and Strategic Initiatives concluded that the scholarship’s criteria could not be adjusted to meet these legal standards without compromising its original intentions. Amid this controversy, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon reiterated the administration’s commitment to eradicating discrimination in educational settings based on race.

Impact of the Decision

The discontinuation of the Herschell Lee Hamilton Scholarship has sparked significant concern regarding its implications for both Alabama’s healthcare landscape and the future of minority-focused educational programs within UAB. Critics of the recent policy changes argue that this decision may have detrimental effects on the pipeline of medical professionals who represent underrepresented communities, further hindering access to healthcare for those in need.

Background on the Scholarship

The scholarship was initially funded through generous contributions from the Hamilton family along with additional donors. It was named in honor of Dr. Herschell Lee Hamilton, a trailblazer who was recognized as the first Black general surgeon certified by the American Medical Association in Birmingham. Dr. Hamilton’s legacy encompasses significant contributions to the medical field and the civil rights movement, positioning the scholarship as a relevant and crucial initiative for supporting Black medical students.

Broader Concerns and Potential Risks

Experts fear that UAB’s decision to return scholarship funds may set a concerning precedent, potentially jeopardizing other scholarships at the university aimed at minority students. As institutions nationwide continue to grapple with the effects of policies from the Trump administration targeting race-based assistance programs, there are growing worries that the cancellation of such scholarships could lead to increased disparities in healthcare access and representation within Alabama’s medical profession.

Overall, the cancelation of the Herschell Lee Hamilton Scholarship reflects a broader national trend in the reevaluation of race-conscious programs under the pressures of political and legal scrutiny, raising questions about the future of equal representation in the field of medicine.