By Felipe on April 19th, 2021. Posted under: 2021, Blog Post
IUD insertion training kit used at UWSOM-Seattle’s virtual workshop.
The University of Washington, School of Medicine (UWSOM) in Seattle recently hosted a completely virtual IUD workshop with 50 students and 10+ physician leaders participating. Our workshop was geared primarily towards MS1 and MS2 pre-clinical students with the goal of increasing their competency and knowledge in the field of reproductive healthcare and justice. We were inspired to host this workshop to increase medical literacy surrounding reproductive care and educate student physicians on barriers that our patients may face while attempting to receive adequate contraceptive counseling. As Roe v. Wade’s stability continues to be threatened, we feel it is important for us as future providers to learn how to protect our patients’ reproductive autonomy.
To plan and host this event, we joined forces with the OB/GYN and Family Medicine Interest Groups on our campus. In creating a collaborative committee of around 10 medical students from each group, we were able to access increased funding, resources, and physician connections. We also utilized workshop supplies from organizations outside of MSFC, since it wouldn‘t have been financially feasible for us to send out supplies with return shipping. We reached out to several clinics, pharmaceutical companies, and OB/GYN and Family Medicine residency programs within the University of Washington system to ask for supply donations. We acquired a total of 30 Paragard and 30 Mirena practice IUDs, as well as 35 uterus models through the UW Family Planning Clinic. We utilized MSFC Student Activism Funding and Family Medicine Interest Group funds to send out materials to participants.
The event was approximately 60 minutes. The first 30 minutes consisted of a presentation from two of UW’s wonderful Family Planning physicians who spoke about contraceptive options, barriers to access, our role as providers, and best practices for inclusive contractive counseling (including for LGBTQ+ patients, homeless patients, and patients without insurance). The second 30 minutes were conducted in Zoom breakout rooms with one physician assisting 4-5 students with proper IUD insertion and answering questions surrounding contraception, reproductive justice, and lived experiences while working with patients. After the workshop, we sent out a feedback form for student and physician participants to complete to better help us structure workshops in the future.
As UWSOM is a regional medical school, comprising the five states of the WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho), our next goal is to expand this workshop throughout our entire region. As reproductive access looks much different in Wyoming vs. Alaska vs. Washington, it is imperative that all student physicians within the UWSOM system are given the same opportunity to increase their knowledge surrounding inclusive contraceptive care. Next steps for our collective at the UWSOM Seattle cohort look like understanding the nuances and challenges of hosting this event on a broader, five-state scale.
The best suggestion we have for hosting a large event virtually that requires heavy physician presence and materials to be dispersed (while enforcing social distancing guidelines) is to collaborate. Expanding our team beyond our MSFC leaders directly led to the success of our virtual workshop. We were only able to host this event through our collaboration with the Family Medicine and OB/GYN Interest Groups. In bringing together more medical students passionate about reproductive justice and access, we were able to leverage a collective of resources, brain power, and student ingenuity, as well as build a stronger community of medical providers passionate about upholding reproductive autonomy. We look forward to our continued collaboration as we work to provide this educational opportunity to medical students across the WWAMI region!
By Felipe on April 12th, 2021. Posted under: 2021, Blog Post
From April 11 through April 17, Medical Students for Choice is proud to amplify and participate in the fourth annual Black Maternal Health Week.
The Black Maternal Health Week campaign is led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, and it includes opportunities to raise awareness, take action, and build community. You can learn more about Black Maternal Health Week here, and by following the #BMHW21 hashtag on various social media platforms.
I am mindful that this year’s Black Maternal Health Week takes place while Derek Chauvin is on trial for the murder of George Floyd, and that witnesses reported George Floyd called out for his mother during the assault. [1]
I am mindful that just yesterday police shot and killed Daunte Wright, a Black man, near Minneapolis, and that Wright had called his mother during the traffic stop. She was allegedly talking to him when she heard scuffling and then the call ended. [2]
And I am mindful that many of us are also mourning the loss of Dominique Lucious, a Black trans woman murdered in Springfield, MO. Black trans women continue to face alarming rates of violence and murder. They and all who love and cherish them carry the weight of that every day. [3]
This Black Maternal Health Week, I’m centering Black mamas who have been denied the human right to parent their children in safe and sustainable communities. We must acknowledge the physical and emotional toll reproductive oppression takes on Black communities and Black mamas, and our organizing must include working to dismantle the systems that perpetuate it.
In solidarity,
Pamela Merritt
—
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/george-floyds-mother-not-there-he-used-her-as-sacred-invocation
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56714346
- https://www.ky3.com/2021/04/10/family-member-of-transgender-woman-killed-in-springfield-shooting-says-she-was-a-strong-and-courageous-person/
By Felipe on March 29th, 2021. Posted under: 2021, Blog Post
First published in the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Kern Institute Transformational Times. Edited by Eileen Peterson.
The need to go all-virtual this year due to COVID presented a challenge for The Medical College of Wisconsin’s chapter of Medical Students for Choice (MCW MSFC), a club based on building knowledge and connections to provide comprehensive reproductive care. Instead of holding back, MCW MSFC’s executive board (M2s Laura Grogan, Elizabeth Panther and Madeleine Sookdeo) adapted and leveraged this time as an opportunity to engage students virtually and expand the organization. In September, the loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG), a leader and icon in the reproductive rights, proved to be a particularly galvanizing moment for our chapter. Undoubtedly, the subsequent replacement of RBG with someone against abortion access has increased our engagement and motivation here at MCW MSFC.
MCW MSFC President Laura Grogan, left, and MCW MSFC Treasurer Elizabeth Panther, right.
Through partnerships with both local and national organizations, we hosted the following inspiring events this fall:
- Legal Restrictions to Abortion Access in Wisconsin with Mel Barnes, JD from Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, co-hosted with the University of Wisconsin -Madison School of Medicine and Public Health chapter of MSFC (UW-Madison MSFC)
- Reproductive Advocacy with Sara Finger, Director of Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health, co-hosted with UW-Madison MSFC
- Abortion Ethics and Abortion Access with Katie Watson JD, author of Scarlet A: The Ethics, Law, and Politics of Ordinary Abortion, co-hosted with MCW’s Bioethics Interest Group
The use of a virtual platform facilitated easier coordination with speakers outside of the Milwaukee area. Additionally, MCW MSFC and UW-Madison MSFC joined forces on multiple events this fall, largely thanks to the ease of virtual coordination. Internal and external collaborations allowed us to widen our platform and increase medical student exposure to the importance of abortion care access and advocacy.
In addition to hosting exhilarating speakers this fall, we wanted to foster a greater sense of togetherness during these distanced times. Back in September, our treasurer, Elizabeth Panther, found the funds for us to host a virtual craft night where we painted vulvas while listening to a themed playlist curated by our members. We also facilitated a series of book club discussions where peers openly discussed the book Scarlet A prior to our event with Katie Watson. We are so glad these social events could bring together otherwise distanced students in a low-stress environment.
Moving forward, we have brought six amazing M1 liaisons onto our chapter board: Raquel Valdes, Alli Whitaker, Kate Tyson, Ashlyn Elftmann, Kole Binger, and Danielle Slaughter. By bringing these MCW leaders on board early, we hoped to better understand the M1 class’ needs during these unique times. Our M1 liaisons have blown us away, and their efforts and presence have been vital in our ability to recruit many new members and continue to put on inspiring event and activities.
We have also started to promote MCW MSFC on social media, thanks to the efforts of Maddie Sookdeo, our community outreach chair. Check out our Instagram (@mcw_msfc)! Social media has made it easier to co-host events and cross promote within MCW and beyond. Through this platform, we have connected with local and cross-campus members, and we have been better able to share international resources from MSFC.
We are thrilled to share that our group has been fortunate to expand from 32 members to 104 members this year. The enthusiasm around MSFC has motivated us to continue planning and hosting more events this spring, which include:
- Why We Provide Panel of Milwaukee abortion providers
- MSFC Book Club continued with Killing the Black Body by Dorothy Roberts
- Virtual 5k for Roe v Wade 48th Anniversary with Rosalind Franklin Medical School
- Providing Inclusive Reproductive Care with Dr. Jessica Francis and Dr. Jamie Buth from the Inclusion Clinic, co-hosted with MCW LGBTPM and MCW CARES
- …And more!
MCW MSFC has tried to make the most out of these distanced times, and we are so grateful for our members who have helped us do just that! MSFC is filled with incredible patient advocates, and we can’t wait to see where this momentum leads to in the future.
By Felipe on March 17th, 2021. Posted under: 2021, News and Views
We asked two student leaders some of our most common questions about curriculum reform. This was their advice.
Becca is an MD/PhD student at Ohio State University in the United States. Julius is a medical student at Kabale University in Uganda. Responses have been edited for clarity.
I want to do curriculum reform. Where should I start?
Julius
First review your medical school curriculum and identify what has been lacking.
Ensure you have enough support from the start by sharing your ideas with staff, chapter members, and student leadership. You can also seek guidance from other MSFC chapters who were successful with curriculum reform. Gather curriculum resources and reading materials that you can easily consult when needed.
Becca
Start by reaching out to student organizations and OB/GYN faculty already involved in similar work, who might already have ideas about how to reform the curriculum. Reach out to whoever runs your repro block (or the equivalent) and start inquiring about the curriculum structure if you’re looking to reform the preclinical curriculum. Basically, don’t reinvent the wheel!
How should I decide what my goals are/what to include in a new curriculum?
Julius
It is important to choose what is missing in your curricula but also what is implementable and can be easily taught within the medical school.
Becca
MSFC has a great list of things that medical students should be taught, but ultimately it’s up to you based on what you feel is missing at your institution!
What should I do if administrators won’t answer my emails/calls?
Julius
This is expected and one of the challenges almost every chapter that plans curriculum reform faces. However, it is important to remain resilient and consistently keep writing to the admin. You can also consider having a patron (staff member) who will endorse some of your letters. This way the admin may reply fast enough.
Becca
Be persistent—I tend to follow up on emails regularly until people respond. I think often times once they realize you’re not going away, they realize they have to answer your email. As a last resort, I’ve reached out to other admins who are friendly with the people I’m trying to get in contact with, and asked them to facilitate some contact. In non-COVID times, I’ve also swung by offices unannounced before, but only if they have their door open anyways.
Are partnerships important? Do you have suggestions for successful partnerships?
Julius
Yes, I believe partnerships are relevant. With the right partners, you are exposed to a range of ideas. Good partnerships also help to get the attention of the admin a lot faster. If partners are involved, it amplifies the magnitude of the need for curriculum reform in the medical school.
Becca
ABSOLUTELY. Of course, partnering with other interested student organizations is important, but you should also include community partners involved in reproductive justice. Planned Parenthood is a great partner, but also look into organizations like SisterSong or other similar local organizations.
What if I am having trouble finding someone to teach content?
Julius
Through careful planning, you could avoid this hurdle. Choosing the most suitable, teachable or implementable goals at your medical school would help from the start. It is important to obtain as much information about your specific goals as possible. Make sure this knowledge is transferrable to others. However, it is not unusual to have knowledge gaps in some aspects of your goals. You can consult a resourceful staff on campus or seek guidance from MSFC headquarters.
Becca
A lot of our curriculum includes open source lectures from
RHEcourse and other CME sites on contraception. Of course, having faculty lectures would be ideal, but often times they’re so busy. We also have a lecturer who is not on the OSUCOM faculty, but works as an abortion provider nearby and was willing to teach a workshop. Basically, get creative with it! You can even develop the bones of a lecture you want taught and offer that to potential lecturers so all they need to do is spruce it up a little bit and then teach it.
How can I incorporate racial justice into my reproductive health curriculum?
Becca
SisterSong is a great place to start, as well as
Killing the Black Body—our course incorporated readings and discussions on this. With every curricular component you create, just take a look at it through the intersectional lens of reproductive health, gender, and race, and how it could be improved to better address reproductive justice.
What can I do if my school has restrictions on teaching about abortion (such as at a religious institution)?
Julius
Engaging the pro-life groups on-campus in discussion helps. Clearly stating the dangers of unsafe abortion with evidences from cases seen on-campus would go a long way in convincing them. Also, choose your goals appropriately so as to not conflict too much directly with religious beliefs at your institution.
Anything else you want to share?
Becca
Don’t just focus on preclinical reforms! There is a lot that can be done for 3rd and 4th years, and that’s a very interesting training period to develop curricula for!
Thanks, Becca and Julius!
Do you need help with curriculum reform? See our resources or email students@msfc.org.
By Felipe on March 09th, 2021. Posted under: 2021
In February, MSFC launched the Beyond Roe Project. Roe v. Wade is constantly under threat and already fails to ensure abortion access for many people across the US. We can‘t expect it to remain in place forever, and it‘s long been time to fight for more than maintaining the status quo. Through our #BeyondRoe program, MSFC provides members with the tools to create a future where all people can get an abortion when they need it, and physicians support and respect their patients’ decisions.
We‘ve identified three key focus areas for this year: Advocacy, Medication Abortion, and Ending Criminalization. We’ve created new event guides with a virtual event format in mind to help your chapter prepare for a future #BeyondRoe starting this year.
To kick off the Beyond Roe Project, MSFC held a community call. As a community, we learned about the current legal landscape and legislative barriers to abortion access and MSFC‘s new resources to support chapters‘ Beyond Roe work. We heard from our students already engaged in protecting and expanding abortion access. Here are some of the ways our students are working to move Beyond Roe.
Legislative Advocacy
We heard from Rose in Boston about her chapter‘s work in advocating for the passage of the Roe Act, legislation that expanded abortion access in Massachusetts for minors and people seeking an abortion after 24 weeks in some cases. The chapter partnered with local affiliates of NARAL and Planned Parenthood and others in the Roe Act Coalition to learn about the Act, access training, and advocate for the passage. As Rose reminded us, “even in blue states, [abortion] access isn‘t equitable,“ and the Roe Act is a big step in remedying that reality.
Volunteerism
In Texas, people seeking abortions face many barriers, including distance. In the region where Jasmine goes to school, many patients have to drive at least five hours to access care. Additional legislative restrictions require multiple clinic visits and waiting periods. This legislative landscape is so oppressive and daunting that activists can quickly feel overwhelmed. Jasmine and her peers volunteer with Jane’s Due Process, a Texas organization that facilitates abortion care, especially for teens who require a judicial bypass. Every volunteer shift, Jasmine can connect with patients and offer them resources and support, and this work is both helpful and invigorating. Jasmine shared this wisdom with us: “small things can make a big difference.“
Peer-education
In religiously–affiliated schools, learning about abortion and family planning is rare. State-level abortion restrictions not only restrict access to abortion care, they also limit access to training. To help remedy this reality, Amanda works to bring extracurricular education to her classmates. She and her chapter are organizing a reproductive justice panel comprised of clinicians of different specialties. This panel is a massive success for a school and region that is unfriendly to abortion rights and could be the first opportunity students have to learn about reproductive justice.
Research
Uma and Raadhika in New Jersey learned about new research on missed period pills from an NYT opinion piece and were excited to learn more. They connected with the researchers and had them discuss their work and the future of the research study. Research is a powerful tool in advocacy at a legislative level. Research is vital in advocating within the medical field for new approaches to and techniques for providing care. By introducing their peers to this research, [students] allow their classmates to think outside of the status quo for new care delivery models that can expand abortion access and patient empowerment.
We are proud of our chapters’ work to expand abortion access in their communities. As the threats to this access continue to grow, we see our chapters rising to the challenge, and we are honored to support them in this work.
By Felipe on February 22nd, 2021. Posted under: 2021
I am thrilled to lead MSFC as the new Executive Director. I look forward to meeting with MSFC student leaders as they train and organize to ensure everyone has the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and to live in communities free of violence and oppression.
Pamela Merritt, MSFC’s Executive Director.
Creating tomorrow’s abortion providers and pro-choice physicians is essential to advancing reproductive justice. In this effort, MSFC student leaders, alumni, donors, and supporters join millions of people across the world to raise our voices in unapologetic support of abortion care and access. From Ireland and Venezuela to Poland and Kenya, support for legal access to abortion is strong and growing.
We also have an opportunity to address injustices that are often barriers to care. People want to live in healthy communities, and dismantling reproductive oppression is a necessary step to building a more just world. As we work to increase access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, we must address the historical racial injustices rooted within medical institutions. I look forward to working with student leaders to create space for learning and courageous conversation, and to support organizing efforts that seek to right historical wrongs, hold institutions and leaders accountable, and clear the path as justice continues to march forward.
To our members and alumni, thank you for your activism. You are the leaders our movement has been waiting for, and you inspire me every day.
In solidarity,
Pamela Merritt
Executive Director, Medical Students for Choice
