I came into medical school not knowing exactly what I was interested in, but having a vague sense that I was interested in underserved populations and healthcare inequalities. Early in the Fall of my first year I went to a MSFC General Interest meeting and found myself taken in by the passion with which the then-student coordinators spoke and how much they encouraged us to become involved in MSFC activities. They also mentioned the Family Planning conference that would be taking place in St. Louis a couple of months later. It came off as a wonderful opportunity to learn more about an issue that I had always supported but never actively considered as part of my future work. How much that was about to change! I went to the conference and was absolutely blown away by the knowledge and passion of the speakers and workshop leaders, and the enthusiasm of the students, doctors and other professionals that were attending. The energy was so committed to social justice and ensuring that the fight for choice stays alive. From learning about global issues surrounding abortion to the domestic legal culture around choice, I suddenly understood how much as a current medical student and future physician I have a responsibility to not only become the best healthcare provider I can be, but also to actively advocate for and support the rights of my patients. I’ve always identified myself as a feminist, but after going to the Family Planning conference and subsequently getting more involved in MSFC and family planning research, I have felt that over the past year a light bulb has switched on in my head. Almost seamlessly, the interests I have always had for social justice, health care equality and women’s rights merged into a very clear passion and future direction, which is to become a physician dedicated to reproductive health rights and access to care for all women. I owe all of the realizations over the past year and my current strong interest in family planning and Ob-Gyn to that first MSFC conference I attended. As a current student coordinator at my school, I am very excited for the possibilities for education and advocacy in the years ahead. I also am determined to advocate for my own education now and in the future as a future abortion provider and a physician dedicated to women’s reproductive health.

Mohini, University of Pittsburgh