Experts have expressed concern over courses offered by the University of Maryland for the spring 2026 semester, claiming they embody “identity politics” and hinder true education.
One course, titled “Decolonizing Medicine: Steps to Actionable Change,” aims to explore how historical colonial legacies influence present-day global health systems. The course description mentions examining the concept of the “white body” as a medical standard and understanding neocolonial influences in modern health work. It’s particularly geared towards students pursuing careers in medicine, public health, or health policy.
The syllabus lists various topics, such as “Medicine as a Colonial Project,” “Indigenous Medicine and Knowledge Systems,” and “Structural Violence in Public Health.” Assigned readings seem to cover a range of critical theories and perspectives, including those focused on medical apartheid.
Regan Dugan, the director of higher education initiatives at Defending Education, remarked that while this one-credit course is typical for today’s climate, it is still troubling. She argued that framing medicine as problematic due to its colonial past lacks historical and scientific validity, suggesting that this may inadvertently encourage future medical professionals to see patients through a lens of oppression rather than treating them individually.
Moreover, the course appears to be student-led, with a focus on encouraging participants to share their chosen pronouns and aspects of their identities during discussions. Dr. Kurt Miceli, medical director at De No Harm, added that such courses risk shifting attention from evidence-based reasoning to ideological frameworks, potentially undermining trust in the medical profession if patients feel care is influenced by political perspectives rather than individualized medical needs.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the University of Maryland for further comments. The broader trend of integrating social justice into university curricula has been noted, with reports indicating that many institutions are emphasizing social justice themes in their programs.
