What You Can Do -> Training Opportunities

Training Opportunities: Ways to Shape your Education

MSFC Reproductive Health Externship Program
An opportunity for medical students and residents in the United States and Canada to observe reproductive health care services-especially abortion provision-in a clinical setting. Externships usually include exposure to surgical abortion, medical abortion, pregnancy-options counseling, contraception counseling, sexually transmitted disease interventions, pap and pelvic exams, ultrasound, and a general introduction to working in a reproductive health care facility.

Dr. Barnett A. Slepian Memorial Fund Clinical Training Grant
A grant award of up to $2,500 may be used in any manner necessary to support a physician, resident or medical student's training in the abortion procedure. For example, this grant could assist with training fees/tuition, living expenses while in training, or travel expenses. Applications are reviewed by the Slepian Committee on an ongoing basis and the grant is awarded annually. For more information see the brochure and grant application.

ARHP Elective for Fourth-Year Students
Originally developed by AMWA and now managed by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), the Reproductive Health Model Curriculum is used in fourth-year electives in medical schools throughout the country. The Curriculum covers topics such as abortion, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, primary care for infertility, and psychosocial factors including physician/patient communication.

The Curriculum is available for download free of charge on ARHP’s Web site: www.arhp.org/curriculum. A listing of Curriculum electives at U.S. medical schools is available at www.arhp.org/electives.

For more information or to find out how you can encourage your administration to incorporate reproductive health topics in your school’s curriculum, contact ARHP at (202) 466-3825 or curriculum@arhp.org.

PPNYC Clinician Training Initiative
The Clinician Training Initiative of Planned Parenthood of New York City trains residents, physicians and other medical providers in the technical and counseling skills needed to provide excellent abortion services. Their curriculum has been approved by a medical advisory panel that includes officials from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Trainees learn pregnancy diagnosis, preoperative operations, review of sonogram and products of conception, follow-up care, counseling skills that focus on sensitivity to patient needs and circumstances, and hands-on surgical training in first-trimester abortion. Trainees are constantly monitored and must pass a final-training evaluation.

Graduates receive a certificate of proficiency in performing first-trimester abortion. Graduates work in Planned Parenthood affiliates or in private and/or hospital-based practices.

For more information on CTI, please call (212) 274-7255.

Fellowship Opportunities in Reproductive Health
The Fellowship in Family Planning is a two year post-residency fellowship leading to a subspecialty in abortion and family planning. Currently 12 sites offer fellowship training for Obstetricians and Gynecologists, including UCSF, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, University of Pittsburgh, University of Southern California, Oregon Health Sciences University, Boston University, University of Chicago (formerly at University of Illinois, Chicago), Emory University, Northwestern University, Harvard Medical School, and University of Michigan. A Family Practice fellowship is available at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The Fellowship in Family Planning is the only fellowship in the nation that provides the opportunity for high-level research and clinical skills in family planning and abortion by giving fellows the opportunity to work with respected and innovative leaders in the field. The fellowship also offers the opportunity to work in an international setting. Fellows have the option of pursuing either a Masters Degree in Public Health or a Masters of Science Degree. Fellows receive annual salaries, health insurance and loan repayment assistance.

For more information about the fellowships, please go to www.familyplanningfellowship.org, or contact:

Uta Landy, PhD
National Director
Fellowship in Family Planning
Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy
University of California, San Francisco
3333 California St. Suite 335, Box 0744
San Francisco, CA 94143-0744
Telephone: 415-502-8470
Fax: 415-502-8479
E-mail: landyu@obgyn.ucsf.edu