After I finished my undergraduate degree at Santa Clara University in California, I moved to Boston where I completed my medical school training at Boston University School of Medicine. I was fortunate to stay at Boston Medical Center for my residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, a department that had both strong Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) ...Read more >

I am an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Director of Obstetrical Services, and Vice Chair for Quality and Safety with appointments in the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. I have developed a successful research program in Maternal Fetal Medicine that ...Read more >

I am a womanist theo-ethicist/reproductive justice (RJ) expert whose scholarship is situated at the intersections of womanist theology and ethics and reproductive justice. I am one of the founding mothers of the RJ movement. This study examines the ways in which religious doctrine and dogma impact the reproductive decisions and sexual attitudes and behaviors of ...Read more >

Background: The Mifeprex® Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) requires that the drug be dispensed only in a clinic, office, or hospital, despite the lack of evidence that this improves safety. In a recent survey of obstetrician-gynecologists (Ob-Gyns), we found that only 14% provided medication abortion, but an additional 15% said they would provide it ...Read more >

Background: While medication abortion has the potential to expand abortion access, barriers persist. One such barrier may be locating a provider. Research has shown that individuals commonly use the internet to self-refer for abortion services. However, we have previously shown that the quality of information available online for abortion self-referral is low, and it is ...Read more >

Background: Current approaches to pain management are inadequate for both aspiration and medication abortion. Our recent placebo controlled trial found that an easily taught auricular acupuncture protocol led to much lower maximum pain during aspiration abortion compared to usual care (median scores 39.5 versus 71 on a 100-point Visual Analog Scale). The intervention also substantially ...Read more >

Background: There is global consensus that there is benefit to providing Rh immune globulin in the third trimester to prevent immune sensitization and consequent pregnancy complications, however, evidence to guide management of Rh-negative women in the first trimester bleeding is lacking. Our preliminary data indicate that women undergoing abortion in the first trimester are exposed ...Read more >

Background: This project will build upon existing training resources to develop and pilot a free, online, training resource titled “Medication Abortion in Primary Care.” This training will be designed to meet the needs of general Internists, and other primary care providers who may not be comfortable performing intrauterine procedures. By providing clinicians a continuing medical ...Read more >

Background: Access to safe abortion is declining in the US—especially in the Southeast—and Black, Latinx, and/or lower income women experience disproportionate barriers to abortion care and increased risk for unintended pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and maternal mortality. Medication abortion has the potential to improve access for marginalized and high-risk women. SisterLove, Inc., a community-based reproductive justice organization ...Read more >

Background: Expanding the pool of trained, competent medication abortion providers is necessary to fill gaps in access to safe abortion in the US. The scope of practice for advanced practice clinicians (APCs), including nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs) and physician assistants (PAs), extends well beyond the skills required to safely manage medication abortion ...Read more >