Health
Under Pressure, Psychology Accreditation Board Suspends Diversity Standards
The American Psychological Association, which sets standards for professional training in mental health, has voted to suspend its requirement that postgraduate programs show a commitment to diversity in recruitment and hiring.
The decision comes as accrediting bodies throughout higher education scramble to respond to the executive order signed by President Trump attacking diversity, equity and inclusion policies. It pauses a drive to broaden the profession of psychology, which is disproportionately white and female, at a time of rising distress among young Americans.
The A.P.A. is the chief accrediting body for professional training in psychology, and the only one recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It provides accreditation to around 1,300 training programs, including doctoral internships and postdoctoral residencies.
Mr. Trump has made accrediting bodies a particular target in his crusade against D.E.I. programs, threatening in one campaign video to “fire the radical Left accreditors that have allowed our colleges to become dominated by Marxist maniacs and lunatics” and “accept applications for new accreditors.”
Department of Justice officials have pressured accrediting bodies in recent weeks, warning the American Bar Association in a letter that it might lose its status unless it repealed diversity mandates. The A.B.A. voted in late February to suspend its diversity and inclusion standard for law schools.
The concession by the A.P.A., a bastion of support for diversity programming, is a particular landmark. The association has made combating racism a central focus of its work in recent years, and in 2021 adopted a resolution apologizing for its role in perpetuating racism by, among other things, promulgating eugenic theories.
Aaron Joyce, the A.P.A.’s senior director of accreditation, said the decision to suspend the diversity requirement was driven by “a large influx of concerns and inquiries” from programs concerned about running afoul of the president’s order.
In many cases, he said, institutions had been instructed by their legal counsels to cease diversity-related activities, and were worried it might imperil their accreditation.
“The Commission does not want to put programs in jeopardy of not existing because of a conflict between institutional guidelines” and accreditation standards, Dr. Joyce said.
He would not describe the tally of the March 13 vote, which followed about three weeks of deliberation. “Nothing about this was an easy decision, and not taken lightly,” he said. “The understanding of individual and cultural diversity is a core facet of the practice of psychology.”
The commission opted to retain another diversity-related standard: Programs must teach trainees to respect cultural and individual differences in order to treat their patients effectively. In reviewing each standard, the commission weighed “what may put programs in a compromised position” against “what is essential to the practice of psychology that simply cannot be changed,” he said.
Kevin Cokley, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, said he was “absolutely devastated” to learn of the A.P.A.’s decision on a psychology listserv this week.
“Frankly, I think the decision is really unconscionable, given what we know of the importance of having diverse mental health providers,” Dr. Cokley said. “I don’t know how the A.P.A. can make this sort of decision and think that we are still maintaining the highest standards of training.”
He said he thought the A.P.A. had acted prematurely, and could have waited until it faced a direct challenge from the administration.
“I think that there is always a choice,” he said. “I think this is a classic example of the A.P.A. engaging in anticipatory compliance. They made the move out of fear of what might happen to them.”
According the data from the A.P.A., the psychology work force is disproportionately white. In 2023, more than 78 percent of active psychologists were white, 5.5 percent were Black, 4.4 percent were Asian and 7.8 percent were Latino. (The general population is around 58 percent white, 13.7 percent Black, 6.4 percent Asian and 19.5 percent Latino.)
The demographic breakdown of graduate students in Ph.D. programs, in contrast, is more in line with the country. According to 2022 data from the A.P.A., 54 percent of doctoral students were white, 10 percent were Black, 10 percent were Asian and 11 percent Latino.
John Dovidio, a professor emeritus of psychology at Yale and the author of “Unequal Health: Anti-Black Racism and the Threat to America’s Health,” said the A.P.A.’s focus on diversity in recruiting had played a major part in that change.
“It really is something that departments take very, very seriously,” he said. “I have seen the impact personally.”
A memorandum announcing the decision describes it as an “interim action while awaiting further court guidance” on Mr. Trump’s executive order, which was upheld by a federal court of appeals on March 13. The order, it says, “is currently law while litigation is pending.”
Cynthia Jackson Hammond, the president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, which coordinates more than 70 accreditation groups, said it is “unprecedented” for such bodies to receive direct orders from the government.
“The government and higher education have always worked independently, and in good faith with each other,” she said. “Throughout the decades, what we have had is a healthy separation, until now.”
The federal government began taking a role in accreditation after World War II, as veterans flooded into universities under the G.I. Bill. Accrediting bodies are regularly reviewed by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, which advises the Secretary of Education on whether to continue to recognize them.
But government officials have never used this leverage to impose ideological direction on higher education, Ms. Jackson Hammond said. She said diversity in recruitment remains a serious challenge for higher education, which is why the standard is still so commonly used.
“If we think about what our institutions looked like before,” she said, “that might be a barometer of what it’s going to look like if there’s not attention paid.”
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Novo Nordisk to slash Wegovy, Ozempic list prices
Board certified rheumatologist Dr. Mahsa Tehrani discusses Novo Nordisk’s decision to dramatically cut the U.S. list prices for its popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy on ‘America Reports.’
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Thursday its approval of a new, higher-dose Wegovy (semaglutide) injection.
The 7.2 mg dosage, called Wegovy HD, is intended for weight loss and long-term weight loss maintenance for adult patients. It is triple the previous maximum dose of 2.4 mg.
This marks the fourth approval in the FDA’s National Priority Voucher pilot program, which “seeks to expedite approval of applications that address critical national health priorities,” according to FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary.
NEW WEGOVY PILL OFFERS NEEDLE-FREE WEIGHT LOSS – BUT MAY NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE
“The new FDA is moving with unprecedented efficiency on products that advance national priorities,” he said in a press release. “Today’s approval is another demonstration of what the FDA can accomplish when we try bold new things.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Thursday its approval of a new, higher-dose Wegovy (semaglutide) injection. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The higher-dose GLP-1 is indicated to “reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long-term in adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition,” per the FDA’s statement.
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“The approval of a new higher dose will provide adult patients with an additional therapeutic option, offering the potential for greater weight loss,” the agency stated.
The FDA’s approval, granted to drugmaker Novo Nordisk, was supported by clinical data that found higher doses resulted in additional average weight reduction compared to previous dosing.
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Higher-dose patients with both obesity and type 2 diabetes saw similar lowering of blood sugar compared to the lower dose, the agency noted.
The safety profile is consistent with the known side effects of semaglutide, which commonly include gastrointestinal reactions like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain.
Wegovy HD (7.2 mg) is triple the dosage compared to the previous maximum dose of 2.4 mg. (Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Skin sensitivity, pain or burning occurred more frequently with higher doses of Wegovy, but generally resolved on their own or with dose reduction, the FDA reported. The agency is investigating these adverse effects.
The FDA warned that Wegovy should not be used by patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of thyroid cancer) or who have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (a rare inherited genetic disorder that causes tumors to develop in certain hormone-producing glands). All patients should see a doctor for guidance on proper use.
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Jamey Millar, executive vice president of U.S. operations for Novo Nordisk, commented on this approval in a press release.
“We are excited to bring Wegovy HD injection to adults with obesity who are looking for powerful weight loss, as no other weight-loss medicine has been studied to show superiority to Wegovy HD,” he said.
Millar also noted that Wegovy has been shown to reduce the risk of events such as stroke, heart attack or cardiovascular death in those who also have known heart disease.
A weight-loss expert warned that Wegovy HD should be used only for obesity management. (iStock)
Dr. Peter Balazs, a hormone and weight-loss specialist practicing in New York and New Jersey, reflected on results of the STEP UP clinical trial, on which the drug’s approval was based.
Patients taking the higher dose experienced an average weight loss of 20.7% compared to about 16% on the standard dose, the doctor noted. About one-third lost 25% or more of their body weight.
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“For patients who start on 2.4 mg and then hit a frustrating plateau, or for those with a very high baseline BMI who may need a stronger metabolic push, this creates a legitimate, evidence-based escalation path rather than forcing an early switch to another drug class,” Balazs, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
“That said, I think this is an interesting approval, but I do not expect it to dramatically reshape the GLP-1 landscape,” he went on. “It gives Novo Nordisk an opportunity to remain competitive on efficacy while it continues developing next-generation therapies.”
“This creates a legitimate, evidence-based escalation path.”
“Other drugs have already shown greater efficacy in prior studies, and the broader GLP-1 space is likely to see much more significant change as new molecules enter the market.”
Balazs called the higher dosage a “major jump,” noting that the incidences of stomach- and skin-related side effects at this higher dose are “meaningful.”
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“This approval is for obesity management, not diabetes treatment,” the expert emphasized. “For patients with type 2 diabetes, currently approved semaglutide dosing remains lower unless the primary treatment goal is weight loss under the obesity indication.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA for comment.
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For some men, March Madness isn’t just about brackets — it’s also prime time for a vasectomy.
Previous research has shown that demand for the procedure tends to spike during the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments, which are held every spring.
Some surgeons have agreed that this is a real phenomenon, largely because the steady stream of games offers the perfect activity for men recovering on the couch.
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A vasectomy is a simple surgical procedure for men that blocks the vas deferens, the tube that transports sperm, serving as a permanent form of contraception.
Recovery typically takes a few days to a week, with doctors recommending rest for 48 hours and light activity soon after.
Previous research has shown that demand for vasectomies tends to spike during the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments, which are held every spring. (iStock)
David Gentile, MD, chief of the department of urology at Highland Hospital, recently spoke to the University of Rochester Medical Center about the uptick in vasectomies during March Madness.
“It’s a great excuse to watch without interruption.”
“We tell patients they should plan on going home and putting their feet up after a vasectomy, so timing the procedure to watch some games while you recover works well,” he said.
“And it’s a great excuse to watch without interruption, as you won’t be able to do physical labor around the house while you’re recovering.”
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Jim Dupree, MD, associate professor of urology at Michigan Medicine, has also spoken about the trend.
“Major sporting events are a popular time for men to schedule a vasectomy because we advise them to take it easy for two to three days after the procedure,” he said in a press release for Michigan Medicine.
A vasectomy is a simple surgical procedure for men that blocks the vas deferens, the tube that transports sperm, serving as a permanent form of contraception. (iStock)
“For most men, this means sitting on the couch in front of their television, and sporting events offer them something to watch while resting.”
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Yet another surgeon, Dr. Ali Dabaja, director of male reproductive and sexual medicine at the Vattikuti Urology Institute at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, weighed in on the topic in 2024.
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“After a vasectomy, we ask men to rest, not to lift anything heavy, and to go back to light duties during that week. So, timing the procedure for watching some games while you recover works well, and it’s a great excuse to watch March Madness without interruption,” he told the Urology Care Foundation.
“Historically, we have usually seen a rise in vasectomy consultations and vasectomies during March Madness,” he went on. “Other urology offices have reported a rise in vasectomies between 20% to 40%.”
“After a vasectomy, we ask men to rest, not to lift anything heavy, and to go back to light duties during that week, a surgeon said. (iStock)
A 2018 study published in the journal Urology found that March was one of the higher-volume months for vasectomy procedures, but the highest peaks were actually later in the year, particularly November and December.
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There were some limitations to that study, primarily that the monthly variation was observational, and the data lacked context of patients’ behaviors and scheduling.
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