Donate To MSFC -> Ten Reasons To Contribute to MSFC

Abortion is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States and Canada. Yet, most medical schools and residency programs virtually ignore the subject of abortion. The result: medical students and residents who are not adequately trained in reproductive health, and women who do not have access to safe abortion services.

What can you do about this problem? Here are ten great reasons why making a contribution to Medical Students for Choice® will help us to ensure that a new generation of abortion providers can provide women with comprehensive reproductive health care.

1. The MSFC Reproductive Health Externship Program: A 2nd year medical student from Pennsylvania spent a month shadowing an abortion provider in a Chicago clinic through the MSFC Reproductive Health Externship Funding Program. After her experience, she stated, “I had heard nothing about abortion in the classroom during my first two years of medical school. Now that I have observed abortions I know that not only is it a safe and uncomplicated procedure, the fact that it is available means so much to women. I will definitely provide abortions to my patients.”

2. MSFC Student Organizing: “My campus MSFC group has really gotten a lot of previously unconcerned students interested in reproductive health and informed about the general lack of reproductive health training. As a result of organizing on campus, my entire class is now aware of MSFC and these issues. I think that because of MSFC, more medical students think of abortion as a medical issue that should be taught, rather than as a marginal political issue,” said a 4th-year medical student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

3. Providing abortions is just good patient care: “I have a duty to my patients to seek training in abortion provision,” says one family practice resident. “43% of American women will have an abortion in their lives (8). Clearly, abortion is just part of a woman’s reproductive life. As a family doctor, I cannot justify sending my patients elsewhere for this major life decision and experience. I see providing abortions as an integral part of providing complete health care.”

4. The MSFC Annual Meeting: “I came to the MSFC Annual Meeting believing I just wanted to support my colleagues in their decision to perform abortions,” said a 2nd year medical student from Chicago. “Two days here have convinced me of the importance of performing abortions myself - and that's what I'm going to do.”

5. The shortage of abortion providers: The number of abortion providers in the United States is shrinking (1) , and the majority of abortion providers are over the age of 50 (7). MSFC is working to ensure that as these doctors retire, a new generation of physicians is trained and willing to take their place. “I feel so good about MSFC, and about the movement to get abortion into medical school curricula,” commented an abortion provider in Missouri. “I am going to feel a lot better about eventually retiring.”

6. Reforming medical school curricula: “My school spent more time teaching us about Viagra than about abortion and contraception combined,” said a medical student in Boston. “With help from MSFC, I went to the Dean of the medical school and asked him to add reproductive health topics into appropriate courses. I’ve been working with a faculty member to develop some of those additions to the curriculum. It’s been a long process, but it’s progress!”

7. The MSFC Leadership Training Program: Our objective is not only to support and encourage the next generation of abortion providers, but also to develop a cadre of activist physician leaders who can keep our school groups strong, and serve as advocates in their communities. One student, who came to the last Leadership Training Program, commented, “My school group has really flourished this year because of the organizing training I received. Being a pro-choice activist used to seem daunting; now it feels not only possible, but also extremely important.”

8. MSFC’s On-line Residency Guides: At MSFC, we aim to help students find residency programs that are supportive of their interest in finding abortion training. MSFC’s on-line residency guides are a confidential forum for family practice and ob/gyn residents to share information about training opportunities at their residency programs. This information helps students in their decisions about where to seek training, and whether to mention their pro-choice activism in residency interviews.

9. Ensuring that women have access to safe medical care: “MSFC occupies such a pivotal place in the future of medicine,” said a Northeastern Ohio University medical student. “I am pro-choice for many reasons, but am part of MSFC for one reason: what it means to be a doctor. Countless women died needlessly from illegal abortion in the U.S. and Canada. MSFC is the voice that says we will never let that happen again. To remain silent in the face of those who would recreate the tragedy of the pre-Roe v. Wade years is contrary to the spirit of medicine.”

10. Support for pro-choice medical students and residents: MSFC serves as a support structure for pro-choice medical students, who often face strong opposition to their organizing efforts. “The few of us on our conservative campus who are determined to talk and learn about these issues run into a lot of brick walls, question our sanity frequently, and would give up if we didn’t have the support of MSFC,” said a 3rd year student in South Carolina. “It’s clear to me that despite the difficulty of our work, we must keep working, because if we are not prepared to provide comprehensive care to women, who will?”

Medical Students for Choice® is working hard to ensure that abortion and reproductive health become a standard part of medical education. We are dedicated to making sure that women have access to quality reproductive health care. Your contribution helps us work towards these goals.

If you would like to make a donation, please click here.