UCLA’s medical school is embroiled in yet again another controversy, this time over a mandatory course titled “Structural Racism and Health Equity.” This class is a prime example of how far the tendrils of radical ideology have crept into higher education, particularly in the medical field. UCLA’s health equity lessons are full-blown indoctrination sessions where concepts like “fat positivity” and the idea that “obesity” is a slur are taught as gospel.
Students forced to attend the mandatory class consumed material that paints obesity not as a health condition, but as a form of discrimination, particularly against marginalized communities. The prescribed readings include work from a self-proclaimed “fat liberationist” who argues against weight loss as a health goal, calling it a “hopeless endeavor” and likening the medical treatment of obesity to violence against fat people.
This radical curriculum isn’t just poorly thought out; it’s dangerous. It warps the core responsibilities of medical professionals by promoting an ideology that directly contradicts established medical science. Obesity is not a social construct; it’s a significant health issue linked to numerous diseases, from diabetes to heart disease, affecting all demographic groups.
Criticism of this program isn’t just coming from outside observers. Esteemed medical professionals, including Jeffrey Flier, former dean of Harvard Medical School, have condemned the course. Flier explicitly criticized the program for pushing a “socialist/Marxist ideology” and misinforming medical students about critical health issues. This kind of education could have dire consequences for public health, as it equips future physicians with a skewed understanding of crucial medical concepts.
Moreover, the course’s radical bent extends beyond health topics. It has included racially segregated discussion groups and lectures from extreme activists, further showcasing its departure from academic neutrality and scientific integrity. This isn’t education; it’s political activism masquerading as academia.
It’s alarming to think about the long-term effects of such education on the medical profession and the wider society. If today’s medical students are taught to prioritize ideology over science, the very fabric of healthcare and patient trust in medical professionals could be irreparably damaged. Institutions like UCLA should be the pinnacle of learning and scientific inquiry, not battlegrounds for ideological indoctrination. As this trend spreads across more campuses, including Ivy League institutions like Yale, Stanford, and Columbia, one has to wonder about the future integrity and efficacy of our academic institutions.
