Chapter 1: The Dismissal¶

In 2023, Kevin Bass was a student in the MD/PhD program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC). He had already completed his PhD and was in the medical training phase.

He was also becoming a public figure. His op-eds in Newsweek and the New York Post argued that the scientific community had made errors during the COVID-19 pandemic. These articles went viral, sparking both praise and controversy.

Inside the university, however, tensions were rising.

The Hearing¶

On December 11, 2023, Kevin Bass was summoned to an administrative hearing.

According to university policy, such hearings are meant to be fact-finding proceedings where the student can respond to allegations. Kevin Bass contends that this hearing was anything but standard.

• The Charge: "Unprofessional conduct."
• The Outcome: Immediate dismissal from the medical program.
• The Problem: Kevin Bass argues he was not given a meaningful opportunity to defend himself, and that the official record of the hearing—the document that justifies his firing—is inaccurate.

The Aftermath¶

Kevin Bass was removed from the program. But when he later sought to review his student file to understand the official justification, he found what he describes as significant discrepancies.

"I read the report and realized: this isn't what happened in that room."

This discovery kicked off a new battle—not just about the dismissal, but about the truth of the record itself.

The Core Dispute¶

To be fair to all parties, here is exactly what is agreed upon and what is contested.

What Everyone Agrees Happened¶

• Kevin Bass was a student in the MD/PhD program.
• He published controversial articles about pandemic policy.
• A hearing was held on December 11, 2023.
• He was dismissed following that hearing.

What Is Disputed¶

• Due Process: Kevin Bass contends the hearing violated university procedures.
• Accuracy: He argues the official report omits key context and misquotes him.
• Motivation: He believes the dismissal was retaliatory for his public speech.

Key Evidence¶

The following documents track the official events of this chapter.

Deep Dive¶

For a detailed personal account of the hearing and the days that followed, read Kevin's essay: Part I: The Record and the Wound

Next: Chapter 2 - The Records Battle