A House Education and Workforce Committee hearing examining the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at medical schools featured a series of exchanges Tuesday as Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., questioned university medical leaders about biological sex, pregnancy, and gender identity, as reported [1] by Fox News.
The July 14 hearing, titled “Training Activists, Not Physicians: The Impact of DEI on Medical Schools,” examined whether DEI programs at medical schools, including the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of Illinois, have affected admissions policies, contributed to antisemitism, and influenced medical school curricula.
During the hearing, Miller questioned Dr. Sam Hawgood, chancellor of the University of California, San Francisco, about classroom guidance related to gender terminology.
“Doctor (Sam) Hawgood, you see UCSF’s Classroom Guide, titled ‘Framework for Gender and Sex Concepts in Teaching,’ advises against using the term pregnant women,” Miller said.
“Instead, it says to use pregnant people. Who are pregnant people compared to pregnant women? Just curious.”
Hawgood replied that the terminology was “part of a curriculum to help our students who are facing a wide diversity of patients” before adding that the “vast majority of pregnancies are in women” and that he has “absolutely no problem with the term pregnant women.”
Miller then shifted the discussion to biological sex.
“Has a non-biological woman ever had a baby?” she asked.
Hawgood answered that a “transgender person can.”
Miller responded, “That’s not a biological woman. Has a non-biological woman ever had a baby?”
Hawgood began responding by saying, “I would reiterate,” before Miller interrupted, saying, “It’s ridiculous.”
The Illinois congresswoman later directed her questions to Dr. Steve Dubinett, dean of the UCLA School of Medicine.
“Lastly, Dr. Dubinett, a required course at UCLA medical school, advises ob-gyn students not to, and, I quote, ‘assume gender identity,'” Miller said.
“OK, from another class in May of 2026. It included a disclaimer that while it uses the term she and women, it does not intend to exclude, and I quote, ‘those who have a uterus but do not identify with these terms.’ What does that even mean?”
Dubinett responded, “I’m not familiar with that announcement that I’d have to read the entire thing.”
Miller followed up by asking, “Can someone have a uterus but not be a woman? Because it seems like your school is promoting that ridiculous idea?”
Dubinett did not directly answer the question. Instead, he said UCLA is “treating transgender people,” but added that “we’re doing that in compliance with state and federal law.”
Miller continued pressing the issue.
“This is curious,” she said. “So, I’m going to ask you again, can someone have a uterus and not be a woman? Just say yes or no. Can they?”
Dubinett began replying, “Again, I would,” before the committee chairman interrupted because Miller’s allotted time had expired.
As the exchange concluded, Miller said, “That’s what your medical school is promoting. Chairman, it’s clear these medical schools are hiding DEI curriculum under the guise of medical access.”
Following the hearing, Miller issued a statement to Fox News Digital criticizing what she described as the influence of political ideology on medical education.
“It shouldn’t take a medical degree to answer a basic biology question. This hearing exposed that our medical schools have become consumed by political ideology that they’re losing sight of reality. Patients just want doctors grounded in common sense. Medical schools that abandon scientific truth should lose their accreditation.”
Fox News Digital reported that it contacted both Hawgood and Dubinett for comment following the hearing.
The committee hearing focused broadly on the role of DEI initiatives in medical education, with lawmakers examining curriculum, admissions practices, and institutional policies at several medical schools across the country.