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physicians

physicians

physicians

MD / DO

Physicians receive the most comprehensive clinical training and can provide the full spectrum of abortion care, including procedural and medication abortion. Their pathway often includes specialized rotations, electives, and fellowships that deepen clinical skills and leadership in SRH.

Physicians receive the most comprehensive clinical training and can provide the full spectrum of abortion care, including procedural and medication abortion. Their pathway often includes specialized rotations, electives, and fellowships that deepen clinical skills and leadership in SRH.

Pre Med
Student

Cultivate Awareness

MS1 – MS2

1

Medical
Student

Root in Community

MS3 – MS4

2

Resident
Physician

Grow Through Training

PGY1 – PGY3

3

Fellowships & Continuing Training

Flourish in Practice

MS1 – MS2

4

Beyond the
Clinic

Lead & Advocate

5

seed one

seed one

Preclinical & Early Medical School (MS1 – MS2)

Preclinical & Early Medical School (MS1 – MS2)

Preclinical & Early Medical School (MS1 – MS2)

Cultivate Awareness

what to do

what to do

what to do

Explore your interest in reproductive health and abortion care during your preclinical years. The schedule is often more flexible for electives, volunteering, and independent study.

Explore your interest in reproductive health and abortion care during your preclinical years. The schedule is often more flexible for electives, volunteering, and independent study.

Explore your interest in reproductive health and abortion care during your preclinical years. The schedule is often more flexible for electives, volunteering, and independent study.

Take courses related to bioethics, reproductive justice, and public health.

Take courses related to bioethics, reproductive justice, and public health.

Take courses related to bioethics, reproductive justice, and public health.

Engage with community and advocacy organizations to understand the broader reproductive landscape.

Engage with community and advocacy organizations to understand the broader reproductive landscape.

Engage with community and advocacy organizations to understand the broader reproductive landscape.

key actions

key actions

key actions

Investigate your curriculum: Does it include comprehensive SRH topics (e.g., options counseling, contraception, ethics of abortion)? Use Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) curriculum guides.

Investigate your curriculum: Does it include comprehensive SRH topics (e.g., options counseling, contraception, ethics of abortion)? Use Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) curriculum guides.

Investigate your curriculum: Does it include comprehensive SRH topics (e.g., options counseling, contraception, ethics of abortion)? Use Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) curriculum guides.

Find or found an MSFC chapter on your campus. Attend the MSFC Conference on Family Planning.

Find or found an MSFC chapter on your campus. Attend the MSFC Conference on Family Planning.

Find or found an MSFC chapter on your campus. Attend the MSFC Conference on Family Planning.

Volunteer or shadow at reproductive health clinics or community organizations.

Volunteer or shadow at reproductive health clinics or community organizations.

Volunteer or shadow at reproductive health clinics or community organizations.

Engage in values clarification. Reflect on your personal beliefs and biases. (see Alissa Perucci’s “Decision Assessment and Counseling in Abortion Care”

Engage in values clarification. Reflect on your personal beliefs and biases. (see Alissa Perucci’s “Decision Assessment and Counseling in Abortion Care”

Engage in values clarification. Reflect on your personal beliefs and biases. (see Alissa Perucci’s “Decision Assessment and Counseling in Abortion Care”

Participate in mentorship programs like AMSA’s Reproductive Health Scholars Program or Reproductive Justice Leadership Program.

Participate in mentorship programs like AMSA’s Reproductive Health Scholars Program or Reproductive Justice Leadership Program.

Participate in mentorship programs like AMSA’s Reproductive Health Scholars Program or Reproductive Justice Leadership Program.

Partner Organizations

seed two

seed two

Clinical Years (MS3 – MS4)

Clinical Years (MS3 – MS4)

Clinical Years (MS3 – MS4)

Root in Community

what to do

what to do

what to do

Pursue clinical rotations in family planning or reproductive health (1 - 4 weeks). If your school doesn’t offer one, apply through MSFC or ReproTLC.

Pursue clinical rotations in family planning or reproductive health (1 - 4 weeks). If your school doesn’t offer one, apply through MSFC or ReproTLC.

Pursue clinical rotations in family planning or reproductive health (1 - 4 weeks). If your school doesn’t offer one, apply through MSFC or ReproTLC.

Network with preceptors, residents, and faculty supportive of abortion care.

Network with preceptors, residents, and faculty supportive of abortion care.

Network with preceptors, residents, and faculty supportive of abortion care.

Research residency programs early — especially those that are RHEDI-certified or offer strong abortion training tracks.

Research residency programs early — especially those that are RHEDI-certified or offer strong abortion training tracks.

Research residency programs early — especially those that are RHEDI-certified or offer strong abortion training tracks.

key actions

key actions

key actions

Ask targeted questions during interviews.

  • Is abortion training opt-in or opt-out?

  • Are there abortion electives or away rotations available?

  • How is malpractice handled for away electives?

  • How are residents supported in restrictive states?

Ask targeted questions during interviews.

  • Is abortion training opt-in or opt-out?

  • Are there abortion electives or away rotations available?

  • How is malpractice handled for away electives?

  • How are residents supported in restrictive states?

Ask targeted questions during interviews.

  • Is abortion training opt-in or opt-out?

  • Are there abortion electives or away rotations available?

  • How is malpractice handled for away electives?

  • How are residents supported in restrictive states?

Join advocacy networks like AAFP’s Reproductive Health Care Member Interest Group and the Reproductive Health Access Network (RHAP).

Join advocacy networks like AAFP’s Reproductive Health Care Member Interest Group and the Reproductive Health Access Network (RHAP).

Join advocacy networks like AAFP’s Reproductive Health Care Member Interest Group and the Reproductive Health Access Network (RHAP).

Participate in simulations or didactic sessions if hands-on abortion training isn’t available in your state.

Participate in simulations or didactic sessions if hands-on abortion training isn’t available in your state.

Participate in simulations or didactic sessions if hands-on abortion training isn’t available in your state.

Recommended Resources

MSFC Residency Guide

MSFC Residency Guide

MSFC Residency Guide

Repro TLC

Repro TLC

Repro TLC

RHEDI

RHEDI

RHEDI

Ryan Residency Training Program

Ryan Residency Training Program

Ryan Residency Training Program

TEACH Abortion Training Curriculum

TEACH Abortion Training Curriculum

TEACH Abortion Training Curriculum

seed THREE

seed THREE

Residency

Residency

Residency

Grow Through Training

Key Logistics

Key Logistics

Key Logistics

Legal agreements: Set up affiliations early between residency and external clinics.

Legal agreements: Set up affiliations early between residency and external clinics.

Legal agreements: Set up affiliations early between residency and external clinics.

Licensure: Secure temporary out-of-state licenses for away electives.

Licensure: Secure temporary out-of-state licenses for away electives.

Licensure: Secure temporary out-of-state licenses for away electives.

Malpractice: Ensure abortion training is covered or purchase separate coverage (~$150 / week).

Malpractice: Ensure abortion training is covered or purchase separate coverage (~$150 / week).

Malpractice: Ensure abortion training is covered or purchase separate coverage (~$150 / week).

building foundations

building foundations

building foundations

Ask early about abortion training access at your residency. Identify mentors and allies.

Ask early about abortion training access at your residency. Identify mentors and allies.

Ask early about abortion training access at your residency. Identify mentors and allies.

Meet with your program director to discuss electives and malpractice coverage.

Meet with your program director to discuss electives and malpractice coverage.

Meet with your program director to discuss electives and malpractice coverage.

Complete online learning modules: TEACH’s Early Abortion Curriculum or Abortion Pill CME; RHEDI’s Medication Abortion Case Study.

Complete online learning modules: TEACH’s Early Abortion Curriculum or Abortion Pill CME; RHEDI’s Medication Abortion Case Study.

Complete online learning modules: TEACH’s Early Abortion Curriculum or Abortion Pill CME; RHEDI’s Medication Abortion Case Study.

Log procedures (IUD insertions, miscarriage management, etc.) to demonstrate readiness.

Log procedures (IUD insertions, miscarriage management, etc.) to demonstrate readiness.

Log procedures (IUD insertions, miscarriage management, etc.) to demonstrate readiness.

Join local RHAP Clusters to connect with abortion care mentors and advocates.

Join local RHAP Clusters to connect with abortion care mentors and advocates.

Join local RHAP Clusters to connect with abortion care mentors and advocates.

expanding clinical experience

expanding clinical experience

expanding clinical experience

Apply for away electives with:

Apply for away electives with:

Apply for away electives with:

Start early. Legal agreements, malpractice, and licensure can take 6 – 12 months to finalize.

Start early. Legal agreements, malpractice, and licensure can take 6 – 12 months to finalize.

Start early. Legal agreements, malpractice, and licensure can take 6 – 12 months to finalize.

Seek funding via:

Seek funding via:

Seek funding via:

Continue advocacy: publish op-eds, lead workshops, or mentor peers through RHAP or AMSA.

Continue advocacy: publish op-eds, lead workshops, or mentor peers through RHAP or AMSA.

Continue advocacy: publish op-eds, lead workshops, or mentor peers through RHAP or AMSA.

Supplementary Learning

Innovating Education in Reproductive Health (UCSF Bixby Center)

Innovating Education in Reproductive Health (UCSF Bixby Center)

Innovating Education in Reproductive Health (UCSF Bixby Center)

TEACH Abortion Training Workbook

TEACH Abortion Training Workbook

TEACH Abortion Training Workbook

seed four

seed four

Fellowships & Continuing Training

Fellowships & Continuing Training

Fellowships & Continuing Training

Flourish in Practice

Post-Residency Opportunities

Post-Residency Opportunities

Post-Residency Opportunities

Even after residency, it’s never too late to get trained or re-trained. Many practicing physicians gain abortion skills later in their careers — often to serve under-resourced areas.

Fellowships & other Leadership Opportunities

Fellowships & other Leadership Opportunities

Fellowships & other Leadership Opportunities

RHAP Reproductive Health Care & Advocacy Fellowship

RHAP Reproductive Health Care & Advocacy Fellowship

RHAP Reproductive Health Care & Advocacy Fellowship

Length: 1 year
Focus: Clinical training + advocacy + teaching
Location: MA, MI, NJ, NY, WA

View More

TEACH Leadership Fellowship

TEACH Leadership Fellowship

TEACH Leadership Fellowship

Length: 1 year (part-time)
Focus: Leadership & advocacy, teaching, clinical mentorship
Location: Flexible (Bay Area preferred)

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Kansas Clinical Family Planning Fellowship

Kansas Clinical Family Planning Fellowship

Kansas Clinical Family Planning Fellowship

Length: 9–12 months
Focus: Comprehensive abortion & contraception care
Location: Kansas clinics

View More

UNM Maternal Child & Reproductive Health Fellowship

UNM Maternal Child & Reproductive Health Fellowship

UNM Maternal Child & Reproductive Health Fellowship

Length: 2 years
Focus: Advanced OB care + abortion & SRH
Location: Albuquerque, NM

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Complex Family Planning Fellowship

Complex Family Planning Fellowship

Complex Family Planning Fellowship

Length: 2 years
Focus: Ob-Gyn graduates focused on research, teaching, and clinical practice in complex abortion and contraception
Location: Multiple sites  (38 leading universities across the US)

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Access Bridge Fellowship Program

Access Bridge Fellowship Program

Access Bridge Fellowship Program

Length: Time varies
Focus: Emergency department (ED) physicians
Location: Multiple sites

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Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy

Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy

Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy

Length: 1 year
Focus: Advocacy and media training
Location: Remote and NY/DC

View More

Legal & Regulatory Guidance

Abortion Defense Network

Abortion Defense Network

Abortion Defense Network

Resources for Abortion Delivery (RAD)

Resources for Abortion Delivery (RAD)

Resources for Abortion Delivery (RAD)

Regulatory Assistance for Abortion Providers (RAAP)

Regulatory Assistance for Abortion Providers (RAAP)

Regulatory Assistance for Abortion Providers (RAAP)

If/When/How Repro Legal Helpline

If/When/How Repro Legal Helpline

If/When/How Repro Legal Helpline

Digital Defense Fund

Digital Defense Fund

Digital Defense Fund

seed five

seed five

Beyond the Clinic

Beyond the Clinic

Beyond the Clinic

Lead & Advocate

Key Logistics

Key Logistics

Key Logistics

Even after clinical mastery, your impact continues through leadership.

Mentor emerging providers through MSFC or RHAP.

Mentor emerging providers through MSFC or RHAP.

Mentor emerging providers through MSFC or RHAP.

Start early. Legal agreements, malpractice, and licensure can take 6–12 months to finalize.

Start early. Legal agreements, malpractice, and licensure can take 6–12 months to finalize.

Start early. Legal agreements, malpractice, and licensure can take 6–12 months to finalize.

Join national advocacy networks and get additional media training like Physicians for Reproductive Health.

Join national advocacy networks and get additional media training like Physicians for Reproductive Health.

Join national advocacy networks and get additional media training like Physicians for Reproductive Health.

Engage in teaching, research, or legislative action to sustain access for future generations.

Engage in teaching, research, or legislative action to sustain access for future generations.

Engage in teaching, research, or legislative action to sustain access for future generations.

explore more pathways

explore more
pathways

explore more pathways

Every healthcare provider — whether a Physician, Nurse Practitioner, Midwife, or Physician Associate — plays a vital role in ensuring access for patients seeking reproductive health care.

Every healthcare provider — whether a Physician, Nurse Practitioner, Midwife, or Physician Associate — plays a vital role in ensuring access for patients seeking reproductive health care.

Midwife

CNM / CM

Midwife

CNM / CM

Midwife

CNM / CM

Nurse Practitioner

NP

Nurse Practitioner

NP

Nurse Practitioner

NP

Physician Associate

PA

Physician Associate

PA

Physician Associate

PA