Abortion Training
At Medical Students for Choice, we believe that medical students should have clinical exposure to abortion and reproductive health care. Our abortion training programs provide medical students with financial and logistical support to receive this clinical exposure.
Abortion Training Programs
Reproductive Health Externship Funding Program (RHE)
Through this program, MSFC provides medical students with financial support to receive clinical exposure to abortion care outside of their institution’s standard curriculum. Externs should spend at least 2 weeks in a clinic (or clinics) of their choice. Accepted applicants qualify for a stipend to offset the costs associated with participating in the externship. Get more information about the program and the application process here.
Clinical Abortion Observation (CAO)
This program offers medical students the opportunity to spend anywhere from 3 to 9 days in a clinical setting receiving exposure to abortion care. We can connect students with potential host sites in their area, and also provide financial assistance when necessary. For more information about the application process and to submit an application, visit this page.
Reproductive Health Externship at British Pregnancy Advisory Services (RHE at BPAS)
We also offer an externship opportunity in partnership with the British Pregnancy Advisory Services (BPAS) in the UK. These are one-week externships for students who have completed at least the first year of medical school. MSFC also offers funding to offset the cost of participating in this experience. Find out how to apply here.
If you have questions or need further information about these opportunities, you can email us at externs@msfc.org.
Additional Training Opportunity
In addition to these clinic-based programs, MSFC’s Abortion Training Institute is an application-based, intensive two-day educational opportunity for medical students to learn about abortion from family planning experts in a small-group conference setting. Accepted applicants receive full funding to attend. Get more information about the program and the application process here.
💡Ally Organization Resource
Medical Abortion Course For Providers
IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation) and HowToUse have developed a free online medical abortion training for the full range of healthcare workers, including physicians, midwives, pharmacists, medical students and community health workers. This training is designed to equip health workers with the necessary skills to provide care for women seeking medical abortion up to 13 weeks’ gestation, it is focused on person-centered care and includes a module on supporting women in medical abortion self-care. The course has been endorsed by FIGO (The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics).
The training, which is a video series available for free in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese and Russian, is designed to equip these health workers with the relevant skills to provide medical abortion care. The course can be accessed from desktop or mobile and is structured to be an interactive learning experience, complete with quizzes and an option to download a certificate upon successful completion.