To those that May Find Inequity Concerning;

And its Impacts on Society Cataclysmic,

Floral Gold — Image by Gordon Johnson, Pixabay

I would like to inform you on an attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,

Wittingly or unwittingly perpetrated by the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus Admissions Team.

Since I arrived in Colorado two plus years ago, I have been acutely aware of the lack of diversity here, constantly working to represent it responsibly, providing meaningful exposure to a rather racially and culturally whitewashed community.

Scientifically, my conjecture is that exposure is one of the most powerful antidotes to racism and discrimination. There’s some evidence already.

I represent a demographic and intersectional identity that is not in any way to any extent represented either here in greater Colorado or specifically on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

The most effective way for you to understand that I am consistently discriminated against is to show you how comfortable I look directly after experiencing discrimination, and share with you how I think.

This picture was taken directly after a discrimination event here in Colorado, where I was asked to leave a strip club with my Black Female friend for having my shirt unbuttoned as depicted. A strip club.

I left a google review directly after the experience.

Wow! My review for the venue was viewed 10,000 times!

[embed]Google review of Dandy Dan's by Leonardo Rhodes ★☆☆☆☆ "My friend tried posting a negative review which it seems keeps getting hidden for unknown reasons. Anyway I…goo.gl

You’ve seen how I look, now understand how I think

My Admissions Essay, which I am now submitting to several essay contests for prize consideration:

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In every MCAT test room of 10 people, I was the 1 with the best score.

In every MCAT test room of 100 people, I was One of the Seven.

Top quartile in the CASPER.

Colorado Resident with,

Exceptional Aptitude and Character Exceptionally Established, according to them,

The Gatekeepers.

Do you think I received an invitation to interview?

Sure, the possible reasons for my unceremonious rejection don’t look like discrimination in a 1950’s kind of way — but that’s what we now understand about modern systems of abuse: they wear a white cloak.

1. My GPA from 5+ years ago at 2.98 was .02 away from an arbitrary cutoff. How do we praise Diversity if we are obsessed with scientifically ineffective predictors like GPA for success? What have studies shown about the demographics of kids with high GPA’s in college?
2. I protested a part of the process. You may or may not be aware, CASPER is now Altus Suite! CASPER is an amazing test that we have included so as to reduce bias and improve objectivity, because we understand some criteria like interviews are prone to discrimination. But wait! Now Altus Suite also requires a short interview!

What demographics of students are most affected by the bias and lack of objectivity created by traditional interviews?

So I aced the CASPER, top quartile, but I on-video protested the interview part of Altus Suite.

Did anyone else, nation wide, do what I did?

But I’m not special enough, diverse enough, unique enough when I might be the only one in the entire country to do what I did to deserve a deeper look?

3. There are other people who did even better than my 94th percentile score on the MCAT that applied. Sure, but if we look at marginalized and minority demographics only, did I score in the top 1%?

Maybe it wasn’t any of that, maybe it was because my primary mentor and strongest letter writer, Dr. Emmanuelle Tognoli, FAU, couldn’t be reached while my application was being considered, considering she suffered major stroke, was diagnosed with cancer, and died.

[embed]In Memoriam - Dr. Emmanuelle Tognoli Sadly, Dr. Emmanuelle Tognoli passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 23rd 2022 following a valiant…www.ccs.fau.edu

In an email she sent me prior to her passing, she wrote,

“Dearest Leo,

My heart goes with you anywhere you go.”

Months prior, to her death, I wrote her and her husband an email.

Bonjour Emmanuelle & Chris,

Je suis désolée d’entendre ces nouvelles. J’ai une suggestion, et il ne sera pas facile ni simple.

Je suggère que vous considérez vous transplanter au france, vite. Je comprends que la journée c’est un risque, mais je crois que rester aux etats unis c’est peut-être un risque en plus grand.

Ici, les docteurs ont honte et détestent donner attention médicale consistante. Ils veulent principalement vous quitter de l’hôpital. Ils sont de basse qualité.

Et en plus, la médecine ici est très chère.

Je crois qu’en France, peut-être vous aurez mieux opportunité d’un future ensemble. Clairement, je n’ai aucune droit de décider pour vous, bien sûr, alors prends mes mots avec “A grain of salt.” Quand même, je ne fais pas la suggestion légèrement, sans considération aux implications. Si comprenant, je la fait parce-que la situation ici pour vous me semble grim.

Bon chance,

Leo

Translated it means, leave the US, medical care here is awful, money-corrupt, and all they care about is getting you out of the hospital. Doctors here are inept.

They chose to stay, and she died.

Among the thousand valid reasons I already had for wanting to become a doctor, and the torch-bearing passion I already carried, helping the future avoid leaving more orphans like her daughter because of a corrupt medical culture of mindless regurgitation now burns through me.

It’s clear to all that the United States Medical System, and, at its root, the Medical School System, is broken.

I am one of what I assume are many clear examples of its inequity; the only difference is, I happen to have the tools equipped to expose and excise the diseased tissue.

I call then, on those to whom Inequity may be concerning, to concern themselves with mine, otherwise, unlike Dr. Tognoli, may she see my actions, I will jump ship from this Titanic.

(2023 Update: I left for Colombia.)

Signed,