By Felipe on March 19th, 2026. Posted under: 2026, Blog Post, Featured Article, News and Views
I just found out that I matched. A huge sigh of relief—finally, I know that I have secured my first job as a doctor, and that I will be an OB-GYN. Friends and family immediately reached out with congratulations, many asking for details: where will I be?
I had to explain that in the U.S., there is a grueling, week-long wait between finding out that you matched and finding out where.
For many residency applicants this year—especially those pursuing specialties related to reproductive health—there is an additional layer of stress compounded onto that wait. For those of us who want to offer the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, including abortion, matching alone does not guarantee access to the training we need.
Since the Dobbs decision eliminated the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, residency programs and applicants alike have had to navigate a constantly shifting landscape of state-level abortion restrictions — running the gamut from targeted regulations of abortion provider (TRAP) laws to outright, wholesale bans. Approximately 44% of OB-GYN residency programs in the United States are impacted by state-level abortion restrictions.¹ This means that a similar proportion of trainees may not receive comprehensive family planning training—and, as a result, may be limited in the care they can provide to their future patients.
I started medical school just months after Dobbs was decided, and its impact has shaped nearly every step of my training since. Even as a first-year student, before I knew which specialty I would choose, I knew I did not want to train in a state where abortion is restricted.
That decision came with an ethical dilemma. Patients in these states already face profound and unjust barriers to care, and I felt a sense of guilt about avoiding those communities for training—potentially contributing to an already strained landscape of access. But the reality is that residency training is formative. I know I want to provide the full scope of reproductive healthcare, including abortion. Training in a state where abortion is restricted would not only limit the care I could provide during residency, but also the skills I carry with me for years to come.
As someone from and trained in a “protective” state, I had the ability and privilege to apply only to programs where I could receive this training. So while many of us learned this week that we matched, not all have the reassurance that they will receive the training they need and deserve.
This stress is not limited to fears of inadequate training. For those who have the potential to match in restrictive states, there is also the fear of limited access to healthcare for themselves, their partners, their families, and their colleagues, which affects all medical trainees, not just those involved in the provision of reproductive healthcare.
Match Week is always stressful—but it is also meant to be celebratory. It represents years of hard work and sacrifice for medical students across the country. Yet the Dobbs decision and the wave of abortion restrictions that followed have created an impossible situation for many. Some applicants may desperately want to return home to train and serve their communities but feel they cannot. Others may feel called to fields like OB-GYN, yet are forced to choose between becoming the physician they want to be and maintaining access to essential training and care.
For those who matched this week, it is natural to feel anxious about where we will end up. But we should not have to wonder whether the program we matched into will be able to provide the training we need to care for our patients.
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¹ Hammoud MM, Morgan HK, George K, et al. Trends in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Applications in the Year After Abortion Access Changes. JAMA Network Open. 2024;7(2):e2355017. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.55017
By Felipe on February 09th, 2026. Posted under: 2026, Blog Post, Featured Article
We are medical students from various colleges across India, collaborating to organize pan-India events that promote comprehensive medical education and raise reproductive health awareness among students and the general public. We are a 10-member team functioning as a subsidiary under AMSA India, a non-profit, student-led NGO. I, Suhaavi Kaur Chawla, serve as the chair of the team alongside my wonderful colleagues Utkarsha Sharma, Riti Aggarwal, Shreya Ramakrishnan, Varenya Singh, Srishti Xalxo, Priyanka Ojas Oza, Amandeep Kaur, Rishika Mahajan, and Preeti Kumari.
The following responses reflect a compilation of collective feedback and experiences from my team to present a holistic and honest perspective on our journey within this organization:
MSFC India Chapter Initiatives
Reflecting on my tenure as a student leader with MSFC, I feel incredibly proud of the work my team has accomplished and the meaningful impact we’ve created.
This past year, we organized six major events, ranging from article submissions on teenage pregnancy for the AMSA Newsletter to a nationwide sanitary pad distribution drive. Two of our most impactful initiatives were Project RED 2.0 and B.R.E.A.S.T.- Breast Cancer Research, Education, Awareness, Screening, and Training.
Project RED 2.0, our legacy event, was a nationwide drive on menstrual and menopause awareness combined with free sanitary pad distribution. It addressed the stigma and lack of awareness, surrounding menstruation and menopause, particularly in underserved communities. The initiative reached several states.
- Maharashtra: Tribal outreach of ~30 women using the Bhil language,
- Punjab: OPD awareness sessions with low-cost pad distribution,
- Karnataka (Malleshwaram): School sessions with pad demonstrations and quizzes,
- Karnataka (Vijayapura): Kannada language sessions in OPDs and schools, reaching 200+ people. Overall, 350+ women and adolescent girls were sensitized, and 300+ sanitary pads were distributed free of cost.
We conducted Project Choices, mobilizing students from various medical colleges to organize OPD-based awareness drives. The aim was to educate eligible couples about the range of contraceptive options available and raise awareness about safe abortion rights. Despite India having legalized abortion, misinformation and stigma persist. Through this project, students informed patients about their legal rights, bodily autonomy, and the importance of accessing abortion only through registered medical practitioners to prevent unsafe practices.
The B.R.E.A.S.T. Cancer Awareness Drive was a 10-day pan-India initiative for medical students, focused on promoting breast cancer screening and breaking social taboos around the topic. Conducted in multiple languages and formats, the project successfully engaged diverse audiences, proving that awareness and education can empower communities and start life-changing conversations.
Why This Work Matters to Us
For Utkarsh and Riti, the motivation stemmed from their belief in the life-saving power of early diagnosis and screening for cancer. Knowing that even small awareness efforts can make a huge difference inspires them to act. They also found fulfillment in mentoring fellow medical students and witnessing collective efforts spark meaningful change.
Srishti shared that as medical students in India, we’ve witnessed how low-resource healthcare settings are overburdened with patients who require compassionate and comprehensive care, but often, these needs remain unmet. Despite having one of the earliest Medical Termination of Pregnancy Acts, India still struggles with deep-rooted stigma, systemic neglect, and misinformation that limit access to safe reproductive care. Medical students rarely receive proper training when it comes to adequate abortion care and patient counselling, and although our medical curriculum has recently seen progressive changes, it hasn’t always been inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community. We wanted to foster critical thinking and social accountability, along with the commitment to practice evidence-based medicine in our unit. We wanted to empower medical students with the skills to address and advocate for the real-world problems, not just concern themselves with academia. We planned these activities primarily to ignite curiosity, and soon we were discussing the impact of sharing authentic stories, the courage it takes to simply talk about a topic like teenage pregnancy in an environment that hushes its existence and encouraging new students to look beyond their classrooms. Through these initiatives, we sought to amplify the student voices in the healthcare space.
Moments That Stayed With Us
As a student leader, the most memorable part for me was watching my team collaborate so passionately and authentically. Seeing medical students from across India unite for a shared cause reaffirmed my belief in the power of youth-led change. The dedication of students who spend hours on Zoom, brainstorming, and executing national-level events reminded me why we chose this profession: to make a difference, one step at a time. For me, the success of this role was defined by whether even one girl walked away from our sessions more aware of her rights.
For Riti and Utkarsh, a standout moment from the B.R.E.A.S.T. Drive was the overwhelming participation, with nearly 30 team registrations and male and female participants in almost equal numbers. A highlight of the event was the creative skits performed by many teams. These skits made the message of breast cancer awareness vivid, relatable, and unforgettable, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. Other teams conducted seminars in medical settings, collaborated with local Rotaract clubs, or made their own posters, banners, and placards inspired by materials provided by our team. By allowing teams to choose their own communication methods, outreach took a holistic approach, combining education, awareness, and personal connection. Some teams also distributed pink ribbons, giving the public something tangible to carry home. Moments like these reminded them of the power of creativity, collaboration and meaningful storytelling in driving awareness and change.
Srishti recalls being deeply moved by the “Hidden Voices” writing competition, where medical students shared stories about the unseen struggles of patients. The stories highlight the issues patients endure in our healthcare system and in their personal lives, that we as care providers might not recognize. A reality so different than what we expect that we’re forced to think, to dig deeper and ultimately realize our role in this process. Another fond memory for her was seeing first-year medical students eagerly prepare for one of their first initiatives with Project Red and how they would nervously walk up to the stage to present the material,. how they’d step into their roles as educators for that session, spreading awareness about a taboo topic like menstrual hygiene with the confidence that they were part of the change they wanted to see.
Student-Led Action
Utkarsh and Riti believe that initiatives like the B.R.E.A.S.T. Cancer Awareness Drive can make a real difference in reproductive healthcare rights and access by helping break the silence around topics often considered taboo. Educating people about early diagnosis, screening and preventive care gives them the knowledge and confidence to take control of their own health. Using creative ways to communicate such as skits, seminars and posters makes medical information easier to understand and relate to, reaching more people effectively. Mentoring fellow medical students also helps spread this awareness further, so that the message continues beyond the event. In the end, initiatives like this bridge the gap between medical knowledge and everyday understanding, encourage open conversations and make it easier for people to access healthcare without fear or hesitation.
Srishti believes that these initiatives aim at spreading awareness amongst the general population on the more taboo topics in India like safe abortion, menstruation, maintenance of menstrual hygiene, contraception as well as diseases like STIs, breast cancer, cervical cancer etc. We take on topics that, despite being well researched, are riddled with misconceptions or myths. Many patients are unaware of the government schemes and programs launched for their benefit and welfare. Patients, especially those who are not literate and those who are underprivileged, find it hard to navigate through these schemes, adding another barrier to access. The unit ensures that medical students participating in or conducting these initiatives are equipped with accurate medical information and skills to tackle misinformation. By doing so, we remind the public that their interests are respected and will be protected.
These initiatives are designed to help medical students learn about important patient issues, compassionate decision making, and inclusivity in every sense of the word. They encourage a healthy discourse among medical students and give them the opportunity to interact with patients. We hope that through these sessions we will be able to make the patients aware of their healthcare rights and of our responsibility to support them. Through continued student efforts, the medical curriculum in our country has begun to embrace inclusive terms and to do away with outdated ones; we aim to further that journey.
Learning to Lead and Challenges We Faced
A major challenge was discussing topics like breast cancer in a way that was both informative and culturally sensitive. We had to balance medical accuracy with empathy to ensure people felt comfortable engaging.
Coordinating teams across diverse regions with different languages and work styles was another hurdle. We addressed this by allowing creative flexibility while maintaining consistency in messaging. Regular check-ins, mentorship, and encouragement helped sustain motivation and ensure smooth execution.
According to Srishti, another challenge was public skepticism toward modern medicine and the rising preference for alternative healing systems. Many communities mistrusted allopathic medicine, making engagement difficult. The team overcame this by building mutual respect, encouraging shared decision-making and upholding bodily autonomy. By addressing myths in patients’ own languages and contexts, we were able to rebuild trust and promote informed, evidence-based healthcare choices.
What This Means for Patients and Medical Students
Initiatives like the B.R.E.A.S.T. Cancer Awareness Drive can have a meaningful impact on access to reproductive healthcare for both patients and students. For patients, awareness about screening and early detection empowers them to seek care proactively and make informed decisions about their health. For students, participating in these activities builds knowledge, confidence, and communication skills, while also giving them experience in teamwork, leadership, and structured hierarchy, since each team had an event coordinator and volunteers.
These activities are a gateway to knowing the lacunae in the medical system, our curriculum and the administrative inefficiencies that defer access to healthcare. These activities provide them with the opportunity to take up leadership roles, public health initiatives and build the capacity to influence healthcare policy in the future. This teaches students how to advocate for their patients and their rights which could expand access to healthcare. We may not always be able to provide tangible solutions to pressing problems in medicine but can always foster the interest to do so. By helping students learn, we ensure that patients receive accurate legal and medical guidance. For underprivileged patients, our awareness activities become a source of confidence in the medical system. This reduces stigma in healthcare settings and encourages curiosity. Our donation drives try to improve access to menstrual products whilst educating young girls who can share this newfound knowledge with other girls their age.
To Students Thinking of Starting a Chapter
As a student leader, my advice is simple- take that first step. Change starts small, but consistency creates impact. Utkarsh and Riti add, “If you want to start a chapter, just go for it! Don’t wait for the perfect plan. Build a passionate team, divide work smartly and stay organized- but also enjoy the process. Balance academics with advocacy, experiment fearlessly and remember that even small events matter. Every effort counts.”
Srishti concludes, “Medical Students for Choice Unit has become an essential part of medical student advocacy groups, especially with the current climate in healthcare where there is increasing focus on limiting reproductive rights of women and diminishing patient autonomy, which is an important pillar of bioethics. It fights for your voice as budding doctors to be heard in the healthcare space, bridges the gap between medical legality and lived reality, helping you represent patients’ interests when they themselves cannot. It creates a community of like-minded individuals who want to contribute towards safe, dignified and informed reproductive care for all. And despite the challenges we face, it is worth it to have a fraternity like that. So, my advice would be to just nurture your interest. Don’t think of starting a chapter as a task for a big man. A start has no requirements, just you and your belief. If you’re a medical student and you’re passionate about advocating, learning, and organizing, this would be the place for you. And even if this isn’t something you have ever done before, I have always believed in pursuing the things that inspire curiosity, especially those that intimidate you.”
By Felipe on December 01st, 2025. Posted under: 2025, Blog Post, Featured Article
My name is Adinweruka Ifunanyachukwu (she/her), and I am a 5th-year medical student and the current student leader at my university chapter. We are a relatively new chapter, and we have so far carried out a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education outreach to over 400 youth between the ages of 13 and 19.
We also planned a webinar on “Addressing the Impact of Gender Based Violence on Access to Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services; Overcoming the Barriers as a Health Care Provider“. We had an amazing speaker who shared extensive knowledge and expertise on the topic. We are looking forward to providing much more hands-on reproductive health training for medical students and educating our community about reproductive health and rights.
Access to reproductive health is one of the challenges in our community. Currently, less than 20% of Nigerian women use a modern form of contraception. In addressing this issue, we need to name, understand, and address the barriers.
Gender-based violence affects millions of lives. In all its various forms, it acts as a barrier to reproductive health services. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, technology-facilitated abuse, harassment, femicide, and medical misogyny all play a role in limiting access to reproductive health both at the level of the individual seeking care and the level of care they receive at the health facility. As future health professionals and advocates for reproductive health, rights, and justice. It is important to learn how to address it at all levels.
A memorable highlight was when the speaker, Chinyere Ama-Oji (IP Program Coordinator for Gender-Based Violence, IFMSA), led us through an exercise to identify barriers to reproductive health caused by gender-based violence that we had seen/heard about in our setting and group them into systemic barriers, provider-level barriers, barriers and survivor-related barriers.
We also identified those that are unintentionally reinforced through language and communication. It was impactful for the participants and me. We gained a lot of tools to identify and address gender-based violence as a barrier to reproductive health, as well as to continually educate our community about gender-based violence and how to speak out and act. We learned, practically, what our actions and inaction represent for the future of reproductive health and the role we play. I believe this will improve access to reproductive health in the far and near future.
Some difficulties we faced were finding participants and timing. Medical students are very busy, but I was happy we found the perfect time and the most wonderful participants.
It’s scary at first to start a chapter; you may be afraid of the backlash. But you’ll find wonderful people passionate or wanting to be passionate, and it’ll make all the difference. My advice to other medical students is: You can do it. Communicate with your members a lot. I also had a wonderful student organizer who made it much easier.
By Felipe on October 21st, 2025. Posted under: 2025, Blog Post, Featured Article
For many medical schools, a new school year has started, which means planning for MSFC events throughout the year is well underway. Hear from one of our chapters in an abortion-restricted state that has hosted a reproductive health care packaging event related to post-abortion care to learn how to host one on your campus.
Community outreach for an MSFC chapter in a state with restrictive legislation is uniquely challenging. Those seeking elective abortion care often remain under the radar, and students are unable to work with them in the hospital setting directly. However, we know that patients should and do access this care, and we are committed to addressing and eliminating the extensive barriers that exist regarding abortion care. In this blog post, we present an initiative that partners with out-of-state abortion clinics that serve your in-state patients: post-abortion care packages.
These care packages are designed for patients as they are traveling back home after an abortion. Their purpose is to address patients’ emotional and psychological needs after an abortion.
The first step is to find where patients in your state are referred to for elective abortion care. Then, you can reach out and partner with an out-of-state clinic, who may be able to pass out these care packages on-site. Packages can contain items like handwritten notes by MSFC members, heating pads, menstrual pads, electrolyte packets, tea, lotion, Plan B, ibuprofen, pregnancy tests, or whatever else your members think would be impactful! The assembly of these packages can be an MSFC event in which students put the items together and write notes while discussing the nuances of note-writing for a patient who may be experiencing a multitude of complex emotions. Similar initiatives have been organized by Planned Parenthood and clinicians at Duke University Medical Center.
This past year has seen profound changes in the landscape of women’s health, abortion, and equity. This care package initiative can serve as a powerful model for medical student advocacy in restrictive states and has the potential to help patients navigate increasingly difficult terrain. MSFC encourages students in restrictive states to serve patients seeking abortions out-of-state through initiatives like these.
Note: MSFC has $150 per semester allocated to each chapter, called the Student Activism Fund. This initiative could be an excellent opportunity to use this funding!
By Felipe on September 08th, 2025. Posted under: 2025, Blog Post, Featured Article, News and Views
Unintended pregnancies don’t care whether you do or don’t support abortions.
Reproductive healthcare providers face this hard truth when treating their patients.
We conducted interviews with reproductive healthcare providers in Tennessee after the overturn of Roe v. Wade in June of 2022, and the subsequent implementation of one of the strictest abortion bans in the country. At the time of the interviews, the Tennessee law3 had no exceptions. The law changed slightly in the spring of 2023 to grant rare exceptions for pregnancy termination. The Tennessee law ambiguously criminalizes the provision of abortion care: anyone who “provides an abortion” can be charged with a felony and face up to 15 years in prison.4
The interviews offer valuable insight regarding the new conditions in which providers work and expose elevated dangers faced by patients and providers1. In our article published in Social Science & Medicine2, we explore the manifestation of these consequences in a new form of medical practice that we title “hesitant medicine.” We hope to give a voice to the patients and providers impacted by enigmatic abortion laws and express our concerns about the future of reproductive healthcare. While these interviews were conducted exclusively in Tennessee, these consequences are relevant to other abortion-restricted states.
1. Death and Danger are Inevitable
Death and danger were two major interview themes. One provider shares how they navigate these risks, stating:
Some patients who prematurely rupture their membranes…there’s still fetal cardiac activity, but then they get septic, go into shock, and die. You have to wait until they are on the brink of death to intervene and provide this abortion that could have been used as a preventative measure before getting to this point.
The implications of the law’s ambiguity extend beyond pregnancy, leaving significant room for interpretation when determining how much a pregnancy would threaten a patient’s health. However, there is no language in the law to guide physicians, making it difficult to navigate.
2. People Require Abortions for More Reasons than You Think
Why might someone who intended to become pregnant choose to have an abortion? What happens when the law imposes convoluted regulations, and they have no choice but to suffer? A provider shares a heart-wrenching story:
A family had a fetus with lethal anomalies…they knew their baby was not going to live. They had no option but to wait and see what would happen. It would have been within their scope of morality not to continue the pregnancy in this manner. I will never forget the turmoil and the wailing of the father in that room with all of this going on, just outright grief. To have the right stripped from people who don’t align with the same philosophy is heartbreaking. People who do align with the current change have always had the option to remain pregnant, to be honored, respected, and, within the parameters of safety, be cared for.
Forcing a family to suffer an already indescribable pain, losing a wanted pregnancy, while simultaneously barring them from receiving autonomous care, though perhaps not the intention of the law, is the grim reality.
3. The Law Infiltrates Patient-Provider Relationships
Supporting an individual’s right to choose their reproductive path does not always mean that the individual will choose abortion. The role of a healthcare provider is to “do no harm5,” and care for the patient, regardless of their choice, in a compassionate and evidence-based manner.
If you had cancer, would you want a politician or a legislator making decisions about your care? I think everybody would say no, and pregnancy care is no different.
Ambiguous laws created without medical knowledge are harmful and degrading. Legislation that controls complex medical care without acknowledging the intricacies of medicine, pregnancy, reproduction, and ethics is harmful and unethical to physicians, patients, and their families.
4. The Consequences of Abortion Bans Extend Beyond the Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life Debate
One provider shares their evolving understanding of the value of abortion in the medical setting.
I was raised Catholic in a pro-life household. I actually worked at a “pro-life” organization for a time. It became very clear to me that healthcare is a bottom line, and you can’t impose any sort of morality, faith, or belief system on it because not everybody has the same faith, belief system, and moral code.
We trust physicians with our lives: to operate, medicate, and treat our ailments. The sanctity of this unique relationship is obscured when providers must operate under blanket regulations based on political viewpoints. Another provider shares her own story with a patient:
I probably wouldn’t want an abortion myself, but having that feeling was a choice in and of itself. There was one woman I met who was devastated, and she was like, ‘I never thought I would be this person or want to do this. I always thought this was terrible, but I have a six-month-old and a two-year-old, and I just cannot do this to my family.’. People often view it as an act of hate or a sad thing, but it is often an act of love and autonomy.
Providers hear countless stories from patients who find their beliefs change once put in the position of an unexpected or potentially harmful pregnancy. These patients in particular emphasize the complexity of pregnancy and termination. It is impossible to apply a black and white law to a situation that is always grey. In medical school, we learn to prioritize our patients’ values and beliefs. We worry about maintaining this standard when the law overrides evidence-based care and the values of our patients.
Concluding Thoughts: Medical Students’ Perspectives
As medical students, we are taught from day one the importance of patient autonomy. This concept guides our education in equipping us with the tools necessary to enable our patients to make informed decisions about their health. Now, medical students across the country are confronted with a harsh reality: there are strict, yet ambiguous, laws in place that limit our ability to promote autonomy among our patients. If our learning environments do not allow proper education and exposure, we will not be equipped to provide safe and evidence-based care. We are only at the beginning of our career journey, and already are feeling the immense moral and ethical weight of what fear-mongering restrictions mean for the routine care of healthy and sick pregnant patients alike. Before us looms an already understaffed and overworked workforce that strives every day to save, cure, and care for as many people as possible. As applications to residency programs in restrictive states dwindle7, we see the toll overflowing hospitals take on attendings and residents who are left to battle their responsibility to their patients and their ability to decipher laws written without the humanity of this relationship in mind.
Abortion bans aren’t going to stop abortions; they’re going to make abortions dangerous and deadly.6 Lives will be lost as reproductive healthcare providers practice medicine hesitantly and deviate from standard medical practice.2 We encourage the public to listen to the stories of those on the front lines and see the necessity of protecting provider autonomy and evidence-based care for the future of states like Tennessee.
Bibliography
- Lilly, A.-G., Newman, I. P., & Bjork-James, S. (2024, October 25). Doctors are preoccupied with threats of criminal charges in states with abortion bans, putting patients’ lives at risk. The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/doctors-are-preoccupied-with-threats-of-criminal-charges-in-states-wit h-abortion-bans-putting-patients-lives-at-risk-240524
- Lilly, A.-G., Newman, I. P., & Bjork-James, S. (2024). Our hands are tied: abortion bans and hesitant medicine. Social Science & Medicine, 350, 116912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116912
- Tennessee General Assembly Legislation. (n.d.). Retrieved May 9, 2025, from https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1029&GA=111
- Tennessee – Center for Reproductive Rights. (n.d.). Retrieved May 9, 2025, from https://reproductiverights.org/maps/state/tennessee/
- Dickens, B. M. (2012). Patients’ Rights. In R. Chadwick (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics (Second Edition) (pp. 370–379). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-373932-2.00160-5
- Abortion is a human right. (n.d.). Amnesty International. Retrieved May 9, 2025, from https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/sexual-and-reproductive-rights/abortion-facts/
- Orgera, K., Grover, A. (2024). States With Abortion Bans See Continued Decrease in U.S. MD Senior Residency Applicants. Research and Action Institute. https://doi.org/10.15766/rai_dnhob2ma
By Felipe on April 28th, 2025. Posted under: 2025, Blog Post, Featured Article
Medical Students for Choice NYC, a coalition of medical students at multiple institutions in New York City, hosts an annual fundraiser to raise money for important, practical support organizations that promote reproductive justice and access to abortion care. In response to the news of Ken Paxton filing a lawsuit against Dr. Maggie Carpenter, who works with ACT Access to ship abortion pills to patients across the country, MSFC NYC decided to move the timeline of our fundraiser to start in December for ACT Access and the Repro Legal Defense Fund, organizations that promote online access to abortion and defend people who are under investigation or fighting charges related to their pregnancy or abortion. As part of this fundraiser, we hosted a reading of The Abortion Monologues by Jane Cawthorne on January 31, 2025, with the proceeds from all tickets sold going directly towards the fundraiser.
The Play
The Abortion Monologues is a series of vignettes with characters from diverse backgrounds describing their experiences seeking and accessing abortion. In addition to a select number of readings that actors chose to perform from The Abortion Monologues, I worked with Dr. Linda Prine, one of the founders of ACT Access, who wrote a monologue from the perspective of an ACT Access client who decided to self-manage her abortion. Given the nexus of ongoing attacks on access to self-managed abortion and the growing need and desire for access to self-managed abortion in a post-Roe landscape, we felt that the inclusion of a contemporary monologue, informed by lived experiences of abortion providers and abortion seekers, would provide valuable commentary on abortion beyond the clinic. Our goal was to emphasize that abortion is a deeply personal experience that is common and occurs across racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious groups, and abortion storytelling provides a way to humanize a poorly understood process of care.
The Event
MSFC NYC worked with Stella & Fly, a cafe and wine bar in the Upper East Side, to host the reading in their small basement event space. The owner of Stella & Fly was excited about MSFC’s mission to support future abortion providers and access to abortion education and allowed us to use the space at a discount and provided one drink ticket per attendee. Due to space constraints, we were able to sell twenty-seven tickets and raised a total of $500 from the event. While many attendees were medical students, many were friends or family of the actors, encountering abortion storytelling and advocacy for the first time, and other customers at Stella & Fly were curious about the event we were hosting and what we were fundraising for. The performance fostered a space for open conversation—many audience members lingered after the reading to discuss what they had heard, reflecting on their personal connections to abortion access and the importance of sharing these stories. Some attendees mentioned how the monologues challenged their previous perceptions, deepening their understanding of the complexity of abortion experiences. Through hosting this event, which was more open for public engagement than most of our events, we were able to engage with a new audience and bring more people into our mission of access to abortion care and training—in the unique ways that attendees will carry this experience forward.
The Future
Through hosting an event at the intersection of the arts and humanities, MSFC NYC was able to begin the conversation about the lived experiences of patients behind the political debates over abortion and promote the idea that abortion care is not just a clinical experience but a profoundly human one, marked by empowerment, empathy, and understanding. By centering storytelling in this section of our advocacy efforts, we fostered room for empathy, reflection, and communication—reminding us that advocacy can be extremely powerful when it bridges disciplines, centers on lived experiences, and celebrates emotion. In a world of Zoom meetings, busy days, and increasing restrictions on individuals’ ability to achieve reproductive agency, an event to be in a community with a diverse, passionate group of medical students, actors, and audience members was incredibly invigorating and impactful.
While the event was a success, we gained key insights that will inform future programming. Given the high ticket demand, we realized a larger venue would allow for broader community participation. Additionally, we hope to explore more ways to involve audience members, such as a post-show discussion or a Q&A session with abortion providers and advocates. Inspired by the success of this event, we are planning a future event featuring The Turnaway Play, which similarly highlights the real-life consequences of restrictions on abortion access.
For MSFC chapters considering a similar event, our biggest recommendation is to create an experience that fosters emotional connection and community engagement. Storytelling is a powerful advocacy tool, and incorporating theater, art, or personal narratives can make reproductive justice issues feel more tangible and urgent. Partnering with local businesses, inviting a mix of medical students and community members, and ensuring a welcoming space for dialogue can make these events even more impactful. Most importantly, centering lived experiences in advocacy efforts can spark meaningful conversations beyond the event itself.
By Felipe on March 18th, 2025. Posted under: 2025, Blog Post, Featured Article
On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, MSFC Student Organizing held an International Student Leader virtual event. It was an opportunity for student leaders from around the world to share their experiences, ask for advice, and provide context about what it is like to pursue and advocate for abortion training in their region. They reflected upon how MSFC has informed their work.
MSFC operates globally and has a robust network of current and future abortion providers, which allows us to come together to illuminate what providing that care looks like, what barriers exist to doing so, and how to best advocate for healthcare access and reproductive justice around the world.
During the event, we heard from several medical students leading chapters outside of the United States. We wanted to share some of their insights here for those unable to attend.
A student leader from Makerere University in Uganda spoke about what access to abortion care looks like in Uganda:
“Access to comprehensive abortion care is highly restrictive in Uganda and other low socio-economic countries due to unfavorable legal frameworks, cultural and religious landscape. Because of this, comprehensive abortion care and post-abortion care are not exclusively taught in medical schools. Medical Students for Choice has given us students from such abortion restrictive environments knowledge and skills to provide compassionate and non-judgmental care to individuals seeking reproductive health services; and skills to advocate for policy changes that prioritize the health, dignity and rights of all individuals. This has been through seminars, regional conferences, webinars, projects and reproductive health externship programs. I can now comfortably extend comprehensive abortion care, post-abortion care, and family planning services to girls and women needing them.”
This student also opened up about their experience attending the externship program hosted by the Dynamic Doctors Uganda program:
“Dynamic Doctors Uganda hosts medical students from across Africa with funding from Medical Students for Choice for hands-on training at health facilities in rural areas. This externship provides students with invaluable hands-on experience and an in-depth understanding of clinical care and counselling in sexual reproductive health and gives them a chance to refine their clinical skills from rural settings where they will practice from when they qualify in areas of reproductive health in comprehensive abortion care, post-abortion care and contraception. I had the pleasure to be an extern for this wonderful Externship Program at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital in July 2023. This MSFC/DDU RHE Externship Program was such an invaluable experience to understand the health disparities in rural settings from a global health perspective while delving into something that I am extremely passionate about sexual reproductive health and rights.”
At the event, we also heard from a student leader at the University of Duisburg-Essen who presented an overview of their work and the landscape of providing abortion care in Germany. This student shared that the chapter has hosted pub quizzes, lectures, and hands-on workshops. They have organized demonstrations, attended rallies, and coordinated with Doctors for Choice, ProFamilia in Action, Bündnis für sexuelle, and Selbstbestimmung. From these experiences, the chapter reports having developed networking and leadership skills and engaged in interdisciplinary exchange with other medical students and with a midwife community. They have grown in their ability to communicate with the press and give interviews. They have also organized effective campaigns to decriminalize abortion and formed a reliable network of like-minded people from a range of different fields and career stages.
The chapter also shared that their engagement with MSFC has increased political involvement and advocacy among medical students and has inspired many of them to pursue OB-GYN as a career path.
One of the University of Duisburg-Essen chapter members is researching influencing factors on abortion provision in Germany and credits MSFC’s network in facilitating the research required for her doctoral thesis.
Photos provided by the University of Duisburg-Essen
A student leader attending Dalhousie University in Canada provided additional context about their advocacy through MSFC. They focus on teaching students about topics they’ll encounter in any field of practice and getting students more knowledgeable and comfortable in providing a variety of services. They brought in a local abortion provider to share about prescribing abortion medication. This provider discussed indications, required testing, follow-up care, side effects and complications, and counselling patients. They also hosted a local pharmacist to discuss dispensing medication abortion pills, and the kinds of questions patients ask in those interactions. The event concluded with a hands-on session using MSFC MVA kits. The chapter also hosted a urologist to discuss vasectomies as a reproductive healthcare option, a contraceptive information session, and an IUD insertion workshop. They see their role as supporting future abortion care providers and advocating for reproductive justice in New Brunswick.
Finally, we heard from a student leader based in Cotonou, Benin, at the Faculty of Health Sciences, who described chapter activities and an overview of healthcare access in West Africa.
All of the student leaders expressed that MSFC has allowed them to organize, advocate for, and train to provide abortion care in their respective regions. Despite varying social, political, and economic barriers to providing reproductive healthcare globally, these student leaders related to one another through their commitment to fighting for reproductive justice and learning to provide the best care possible in their community.
MSFC HQ has a regular virtual events series and hosts events like these, which help us connect and learn about various topics related to abortion, family planning, and reproductive justice. We hope to see you at the next one!
By Felipe on February 11th, 2025. Posted under: 2024, Blog Post, Featured Article
Around the world, pregnant individuals face barriers to accessing safe, compassionate care, and providers encounter more challenges in ensuring reproductive rights are protected. Yet, in the face of adversity, members at Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) continue to make a lasting impact.
Two of our board members share their insights on the progress made in reproductive health and education, the significance of hands-on training, and the importance of supporting future healthcare professionals. Their perspectives highlight the hope and momentum in our community:
Jennifer Zhang, President-Elect
University of British Columbia
“As a Canadian medical student, I am grateful that in Canada, abortion remains legal and an available medical procedure. W hile environmental and systems barriers exist in accessing abortion, it is important that here we can practice without risks of provider or patient criminalization However, hands-on learning is rare, and didactic teaching is also limited. In the US, uncertainty surrounds the future of abortion care. At MSFC, we continue to support and champion the reproductive justice movement.
This year, MSFC’s in-person Conference on Family Planning (CoFP) was a unique space where folks could share experiences and learnings on abortion care and reproductive justice, which is much needed for current and aspiring providers practicing in all levels of restrictions. Providing hands-on practice opportunities and collaborative sessions that are rarely found in medical curriculums, the CoFP is something I am very grateful for and leaves me invigorated for the coming year.”
Dr. Hadiza P B Thompson
University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
“As we enter a new year, I want to reflect on the immense strides made in reproductive health and justice, both in the US and across the globe. What we did last year was nothing short of inspiring! It is a work grounded in compassion, resilience, and a commitment to every person’s right to access comprehensive reproductive care regardless of where they live or the barriers they face. I am deeply grateful for the in-person trainings that continue helping medical students and professionals with the tools, knowledge, and courage needed to effect change. These training sessions are spaces of advocacy and learning, where every action brings us one step closer to a world where reproductive rights are human rights.
MSFC is shaping the future of reproductive health and justice, not just in the U.S. but in Africa. In places where access to abortion care is limited, where sexual and reproductive health education is sparse, and where systemic barriers continue to prevent many people from receiving the care they need, we are making an indelible mark. This work is especially crucial in Africa, where both cultural and political challenges often exacerbate reproductive health disparities. Through training and advocacy, MSFC is creating a new generation of healthcare professionals who are ready to provide care, committed to challenging the status quo, and advocate for reproductive justice at every turn. Looking ahead, I am filled with hope. The strides we’ve made, though significant, are only the beginning. What we are doing together–whether through education, resources, or policy change–is laying the foundation for a future where reproductive justice is a reality for all.
To you reading this, know that you are part of something monumental. Your impact, whether through your actions or your support of MSFC and organizations like it, is shaping a future where reproductive health and rights are accessible to everyone, everywhere. As we enter this new year, let’s hold onto our mission, knowing that each day we are bringing hope to the hearts of those who need it most and restoring their dignity and autonomy.
Thank you for being part of this transformative journey. We will continue to achieve feats and move closer to a world where all reproductive health choices are freely accessible.”
This work would not be possible without the dedication of our supporters, members, and allies. Our MSFC community is shaping the future of reproductive health where education and hands-on training are the necessary tools for change.
By Felipe on November 06th, 2024. Posted under: 2024, Blog Post, Featured Article
Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) is dedicated to supporting students worldwide to advocate for reproductive freedom, access to contraception, and safe abortion education. Through local chapter events, these student-led initiatives have sparked meaningful conversations, provided hands-on training, and reached communities needing accurate and accessible health information. Below are the recent activities of MSFC chapters in Africa, detailing how each chapter has approached education, advocacy, and community engagement to positively impact in their regions.
FSS COTONOU UNIVERSITY – BENIN
During the first half of 2024, FSS Cotonou organized a webinar on the importance of contraception, during which they addressed numerous uncertainties that their fellow students had on the topic. Subsequently, they conducted an initiation activity for new members on Sexual and Reproductive Health. In addition to this, they carried out various information campaigns, notably on International Women’s Rights Day and International Menstrual Hygiene Day.
GULU UNIVERSITY – UGANDA
In collaboration with the student body of Gulu University in Uganda, the MSFC Gulu chapter organized a march through Gulu. Accompanied by a band, medical students wore their clinical coats to advocate for accessible medical abortion services, aiming to reduce the mortality rates and post-abortion complications faced by individuals, who are unable or unprepared to continue pregnancies for personal reasons. Due to the inaccessibility of abortion services, many are forced to resort to unsafe, self-administered methods, such as the use of herbs.
In their efforts to bring about positive change, the group also sought to reach the entire community. They utilized Radio Pacis as a platform to educate the public on various family planning methods, including where these services can be accessed, how they work, their uses, and potential side effects. This initiative had a significant impact as there was an increased turnover of community members accessing the family planning services compared to before.
MSFC Gulu Chapter members at Radio Pacis, a community-based radio station in Arua, Uganda.
MAKERERE UNIVERSITY – UGANDA
In Uganda, the MSFC-MAK Chapter organized a two-day Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Day Fair in collaboration with various partners at the College of Business Administration and Management Studies (COBAMS). The event provided students with opportunities to showcase innovations in sexual and reproductive health and access services such as condoms, safe male circumcision, contraceptive services, menstrual hygiene services, HIV/AIDS and STI testing and screening, pregnancy testing, reproductive health education, emergency contraception, and more.
The fair also included activities aimed at reducing unsafe abortions among university students. There was a collaborative evaluation meeting with Makerere University Hospital and partnering clinics, preliminary debates for the SRH Inter-University Dialogue, a menstrual campaign, and the national launch of the “Community Check Now” HIV testing services in Uganda.
Flyer for the Sexual and Reproductive Health Day Fair organized by the MSFC Makerere Chapter
MBARARA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – UGANDA
The MSFC chapter organized a sexual and reproductive health event in collaboration with Reproductive Health Uganda, students, and the Mbarara Medical Students Association. The event attracted 87 students and provided services such as SRH education, guidance and counseling, safe abortion education, family planning information, condom distribution (56 boxes distributed), and HIV testing and counseling (22 individuals tested). A key goal was also to raise the visibility of Medical Students for Choice within Mbarara University.
In addition to the event, they conducted outreach in university halls, distributing flyers and posters about Medical Students for Choice, family planning, safe abortion, and women’s rights. These materials were posted on notice boards in various hostels, allowing students who may not attend SRH events to access vital information and reach more students.
SOROTI UNIVERSITY – UGANDA
The chapter hosted hands-on training in surgical abortion, utilizing models and Manual Vacuum Aspirator (MVA) sets. First-time participants gained foundational knowledge in the use of MVA as a vital tool in abortion training, in addition to learning other methods such as dilatation and curettage.
In collaboration with university religious groups, the chapter also organized a one-day workshop on engaging traditional and religious leaders in sexual and reproductive health and rights activism. Recognizing that religious leaders hold significant influence, the workshop allowed participants to explore what different faiths say about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SHRH).
Additionally, the chapter conducted a capacity-building session on self-care and personal resilience in SRHR activism, addressing common obstacles and how to navigate them in any context.
UNIVERSITY OF NGOZI – BURUNDI
During the semester, the chapter organized three key events advocating for reproductive justice for all.
- On February 13th, medical students gathered to discuss how they can engage in comprehensive family planning, including abortion, by breaking the stigma surrounding these services. The event was attended by 50 students (27 girls and 23 boys).
- On March 5th, the chapter, which included 25 students, celebrated International Women’s Day. This event focused on empowering girls to stand up for their rights, including abortion rights.
- On May 28th, in honor of Menstrual Hygiene Day, 55 students met to discuss how menstruation can be normalized and how to avoid stigmatizing girls during their periods. The event emphasized supporting girls throughout their monthly physiological journey.
Medical students in MSFC chapters have been at the forefront of reproductive health advocacy, striving to create safer, more informed communities. By addressing topics such as family planning, menstrual hygiene, and safe abortion practices, these students are empowering their peers and local communities to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
By Felipe on October 08th, 2024. Posted under: 2024, Blog Post, Featured Article
We’re thrilled to share the journey of the Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) chapter in Riga, Latvia, the first of its kind in the Baltics. Our chapter, based at Riga Stradins University (RSU), one of Latvia’s largest medical schools, was inspired by the 2022 FIAPAC conference held at RSU. This event, organized by the International Federation of Abortion and Contraception Professionals, connected us with reproductive rights activists worldwide and set the stage for our mission to advocate for reproductive rights.
Our current team—Isabell von Waitz, Patricia Steuber, Hanna Kreuzer, Féline Kuhn, and Linda Schulz—came together with a common goal: to empower choice in reproductive healthcare. United in our commitment, we’ve organized various educational activities, including film evenings, open discussions, and lectures. A highlight was a session with Theresa Nisslmüller, a member of Doctors for Choice and an OBGYN, who shared invaluable insights into reproductive rights in Germany. We’ve also conducted two Papaya Workshops, also known as a Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) Workshop. An MVA is a safe and easy method of providing early surgical abortion. A papaya is used as the model and students use the MVA procedure to remove papaya pulp and seeds from the papaya which simulates suctioning the products of conception from the uterus. This was possible through support from MSFC HQ and our mentors, Dr. Olga Plisko and Dr. Anita Ungure, and resources from German MSFC chapters. The latest workshop featured Marcela Trocha, a veteran reproductive rights activist from Poznan, drawing over 50 enthusiastic medical students.
Impressions from the first Papaya Workshop. (Photo: Aleksandrs Oborins)
In addition to workshops, we hosted a lecture on Transgender Healthcare, emphasizing the diverse needs and choices within healthcare. Our book club discussion on “Ejaculate Responsibly” by Gabrielle Blair broadened our perspective on reproductive health by highlighting the often overlooked role of male fertility in contraception.
Our motivation is deeply rooted in the belief in free choice and bodily autonomy. The 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade intensified the urgency of the pro-choice movement globally. In Europe, rising far-right ideologies threaten reproductive rights, making our advocacy for gender equality and social justice more critical than ever. Through our work, we aim to increase the availability of abortion providers and ensure comprehensive reproductive healthcare training for medical students, an often neglected area in medical education.
One of our most rewarding moments was the overwhelming response to our first Papaya Workshop in the Baltics. The students’ enthusiasm has inspired us to consider making these workshops a regular part of our activities. Our mentors, who led the workshop for the first time, have been strong advocates for integrating such practical training into the medical curriculum.
First Papaya Workshop in the Baltics with mentors Dr. Olga Plisko and Dr. Anita Ungure (Photo: Aleksandrs Oborins)
Our journey has included challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was creating a collaborative space between international students and students from the OBGYN association. Securing Manual Vacuum Aspirators (MVAs) for our workshops was another challenge, initially solved by borrowing kits from German MSFC chapters, leading to a cross-border collaboration. Recently, through the generous support of Doctors for Choice Germany, we’ve become proud owners of our MVAs, enabling us to continue our Papaya Workshops independently.
These experiences have taught us the importance of reaching out and building connections with like-minded organizations and individuals. Collaboration and careful planning have allowed us to overcome obstacles and lay the foundation for sustained and impactful advocacy. Looking ahead, securing consistent funding will be essential as we continue to expand our workshops and other activities.
From left to right: Diāna Grasmane (Human Rights activist), Arturs Zaremba (Clinical Psychologist) and Dr. Una Gailiša (Endocrinologist) speaking at the Transgender Healthcare Lecture.
Our goal is to destigmatize abortion, dispel myths, and promote safer practices in reproductive healthcare, ultimately strengthening the doctor-patient relationship and fostering greater trust in healthcare settings.
For any student considering starting an MSFC chapter at their medical school, our advice is simple: take the plunge. Connect with like-minded individuals and feminist organizations. The MSFC network is strong and supportive, and if there isn’t a chapter in your country, neighboring ones can offer guidance. Build connections, find supportive physicians, and start with accessible activities like movie screenings. Together, we can advance reproductive healthcare rights and make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and healthcare providers.
Second Papaya Workshop with mentor Dr. Olga Plisko. (Photo: Aleksandrs Oborins)
