During a contentious House hearing focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in medical schools, Republican Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois pressed leaders from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to clarify basic biological definitions related to pregnancy and sex. The hearing, titled "Training Activists, Not Physicians: The Impact of DEI on Medical Schools," examined whether DEI programs influence admissions, contribute to antisemitism, and shape medical school curricula.
Rep. Miller directly questioned Chancellor of UCSF, Dr. Steven Hawgood, about the use of the term "pregnant people" instead of "pregnant women" in UCSF's teaching materials. Hawgood responded that the terminology is part of a curriculum to assist students in serving diverse patient populations, but affirmed that "the vast majority of pregnancies are in women" and he had "absolutely no problem with the term pregnant women."
Miller then asked Hawgood if a "non-biological woman" has ever had a baby. He replied that a "transgender person can." When Miller pressed for clarification, asking if a transgender person is a "non-biological woman," Hawgood stated, "I would reiterate," before Miller interrupted, deeming the exchange "ridiculous."
The focus then shifted to Dr. Steve Dubinett, dean of UCLA's School of Medicine. Miller cited a required course at UCLA that advises obstetrics and gynecology students not to "assume gender identity." She quoted a disclaimer from the course stating that while it uses "she" and "women," it does not intend to exclude "those who have a uterus but do not identify with these terms."
Dubinett indicated he was not familiar with the specific announcement and would need to review it. Miller then asked Dubinett directly if someone can have a uterus but not be a woman, a question he did not directly answer, stating only that the school treats "transgender people" in compliance with state and federal law. When Miller asked if the school teaches biology, Dubinett confirmed that it does. Miller persisted, asking again if someone can have a uterus and not be a woman, to which Dubinett began to respond, "Again, I would," before being cut off by the committee chair as Miller's time expired.
Following the hearing, Miller issued a statement to Fox News Digital, asserting that "It shouldn't take a medical degree to answer a basic biology question." She contended that the hearing revealed medical schools have become "consumed by political ideology" and are "losing sight of reality." Miller concluded, "Patients just want doctors grounded in common sense. Medical schools that abandon scientific truth should lose their accreditation."