Michigan dentist sues the state over unlawful licensing restrictions

Grand Rapids, MI; April 15, 2025: Dr. Kent Wildern, a dentist with a 40-year career providing care in Grand Rapids, is challenging a mandate that requires all Michigan healthcare professionals to undergo ideological training to maintain their licenses. In 2021, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) implemented new rules that compel over 400,000 healthcare professionals to complete two hours of implicit bias training every renewal cycle.  

“It is unconstitutional for Michigan to weaponize its licensing powers to force healthcare professionals to choose between their careers and submitting to ideological indoctrination,” said Wilson Freeman, an attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation. “Moreover, Michigan’s mandate for implicit bias training came from an unelected agency rather than the legislature, sidestepping any public debate on the issue.” 

Failing to comply with these illegal regulations has resulted in serious consequences, with LARA fining at least 132 healthcare professionals nearly $76,000 since September 2024 for non-compliance.  

With a worsening shortage of healthcare workers in Michigan, many providers have had their credentials suspended, and still others have reluctantly surrendered their licenses rather than comply, including Dr. Wildern. Government orders and regulations that compel such behavior violate citizens’ right to earn a living and far exceed the agency’s authority under state law. 

With the support of the Pacific Legal Foundation, Dr. Wildern is taking legal action to challenge LARA’s mandate in state court. His goal is to restore the constitutional rights of Michiganders to work without unreasonable, unconstitutional ideological training requirements.  

The case is Dr. Kent Wildern v. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.