I want to thank every one of you for being an integral part of Medical Students for Choice—our organization continues to grow not only in the United States but abroad as well. Thank you for your determination to ensure abortion training is accessible, whether through critical financial support, serving as mentors to MSFC members, or the conversations you’ve had about the importance of abortion training in your community.

Although interest in Medical Students for Choice is at its all-time high (attendance at the 2017 Conference on Family Planning was the largest in MSFC’s history!), a dark cloud looms over us. There will always be resistance against progress for abortion rights, but the thought of Roe v. Wade getting overturned becomes more plausible as the makeup of the Supreme Court changes under the current administration. It’s hard to remain hopeful when it feels for every step forward, we are taking two steps back. But immediate results are seldom attainable, especially in this line of work. We all felt hope in 2017 though, and I believe this report will show how much we have accomplished as we enter our 25th year of creating abortion providers. A record 172 students received training through the Reproductive Health Externship, 14 new chapters formed in the US alone, and chapter-sponsored educational events jumped by 33%!

I want to end by saying thank you again. MSFC changed my medical education in numerous ways, and the same can be said for many others. As a member, I met like-minded students, empowering and strengthening me on this journey. As a chapter leader, I connected with experts in the abortion community and learned how to organize events that would benefit my community. And as a member of the Board of Directors, I learned the importance of patience, diligence, and teamwork. Without MSFC, I am certain I would not have known this early on that becoming an abortion provider is what I am destined to do and what makes me feel truly happy.

Our efforts will ensure abortion training is accessible (or remains accessible), and every individual who is able to conceive has the ability to access abortion care safely. Thank you for a wonderful and incredibly inspiring year!

Sincerely,

Caroline Vu
President 2017-2018, Board of Directors
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Your generosity made their accomplishments possible.

Thank you!

Our chapters are the heartbeat of the organization, fighting for change and leading the way on the ground. With each new chapter, more medical students are exposed to family planning education.

This year, MSFC funded 172 medical students and residents to get training in clinical settings through the Reproductive Health Externship. MSFC worked with 126 training sites in the US and Canada, and 3 training organizations in the UK, Ghana, and Uganda.