Students for Life Returns to UW-Madison With Pro-Life Speaker

The revived student organization hosted Dr. Katrina Nguyen for a conversation on faith and life

On November 14, the newly-revived Students for Life at UW–Madison hosted its first event with speaker Dr. Katrina Nguyen. Her talk was titled From Darkness to Life: A Christian Physician’s Inspirational Journey.

Nguyen introduced herself as a board-certified physician, speaker, and author of many books, including Live to Give. In April 1975, her family boarded a boat and escaped Communist Vietnam, and she nearly died twice during the journey. She now works at the University of Illinois College of Medicine as a Clinical Associate Professor, and she said her mission is to inspire people through her faith in God.

Nguyen used a scientific perspective to approach the question, “Why am I pro-life?” She recalled a study conducted by Dr. Steven Jacobs, who asked numerous biologists when life begins. The paper found that 96 percent said life begins at fertilization, despite the biologists being mostly liberal and nonreligious.

“When life begins is not a political issue,” Nguyen says. “I am pro-life because I am against violence and murder […] I am pro-women.”

She further explained how abortion hurts women, noting the post traumatic stress many experience after the procedure. After working with babies at 22 weeks gestation, she said that “no one can tell me that killing a baby at any stage is acceptable.”

Nguyen said that, when debating abortion, it is important to help people uncover the truth and change their hearts on the issue instead of trying to win petty arguments. However, this is not possible without prayer and faith.

Nguyen continued by highlighting the importance of evangelizing based on what the Holy Spirit puts into your heart and disregarding what society thinks. She said that “the stories from the Bible are examples of how God calls on all people no matter their qualifications. God will prepare you with the skills needed.”

Nguyen got involved in anti-abortion activism after meeting Abby Johnson– a pro-life advocate since September 2009 and a previous employee of Planned Parenthood– at a Catholic Medical Association meeting. Throughout the years, Johnson helped many abortionists leave the industry, and eventually, she inspired the movie Unplanned. Later, Nguyen joined MyCatholicDoctor, founded by Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann, alongside 400 other physicians.

Additionally, Nguyen drew a connection between abortion, puberty blockers, and gender transition procedures, saying they all interrupt the natural growth process and God’s design, causing lifelong damage.

Nguyen said that when she worked in a hospital, a young patient– a biological male– once came in with abdominal pain and cramping. His medical tests and gastrointestinal issues were not consistent with any known illness, so she asked further questions. The patient requested to be referred to using a woman’s name, and Nguyen found that the symptoms the patient was experiencing were from the hormones given to him.

Additionally, Nguyen said that when patients go to the ER due to complications from abortion pills prescribed from a doctor, the ER doctors often instruct patients to not say they were given abortion pills. Instead, they tell patients to say they are dealing with a miscarriage. This deceives other women into believing abortion pills are safer than they really are.

Nguyen recalled her experience with feeling burnt out and distressed while working at the hospital. Her medical director said she made patients feel uncomfortable by not affirming their gender dysphoria, so Nguyen felt like she was walking on eggshells while at work. During this time, she leaned on her faith which got her through.

Based on her upbringing, she said she would not let people dictate what she could and could not say. She described how Communist Vietnam threw priests and preachers into jail for defending their faith. She no longer feels alone after meeting many physicians with similar beliefs, and said many Christian doctors refuse to prescribe abortion pills while others are combatting gender ideology.

Lastly, Nguyen received a question about how to handle discourse in the classroom when debating liberal classmates and professors. She emphasized the importance of standing on truth and faith when handling conflicting beliefs. Her advice was to give examples and reasons on why you stand by your personal beliefs. It is also important to ask the other person’s opinions on the topic to facilitate civil dialogue.

Nguyen stayed after the speech to sign copies of her book Live to Give.