A class at the University of Maryland for the spring of 2026 is causing concern among some who believe it pushes a certain political view instead of proper learning.
The University of Maryland says the class, called “Decolonizing Medicine: Steps to Actionable Change,” will teach how old colonial ways still affect health care today.
The class description says it will look at the idea of the “White body” as the standard in medical training and question the ethics of modern health care.
Weekly topics will include things like “Medicine as a Colonial Project,” “Indigenous Medicine and Knowledge Systems,” and “Intersectionality as a Decolonial Tool in Modern Medicine.” The assigned readings come from books that support critical race theory.
Some experts are worried about this class. Reagan Dugan, from Defending Education, told Fox News Digital that it’s troubling.
Dugan said that saying medicine is bad because of its “colonial legacy” is not based on history or science. She believes the class is pushing critical theory onto future health leaders, which could make them see patients as either oppressors or oppressed. She thinks schools should teach medical students about medicine, not political ideas.
The class is taught by students, not teachers. The syllabus tells students to share their preferred pronouns and how they see themselves in class.
Dr. Kurt Miceli, from Do No Harm, told Fox News Digital that classes focused on political identity can take away from using facts and good judgment.
Miceli said that trust in doctors could be damaged if patients feel their care is based on politics instead of science and their own medical needs.
Fox News Digital has reported many times about universities adding social justice ideas into their classes.
