Olivia Manayan

Olivia Manayan (MD, MPH) is a Fellow in our Leadership Training Academy Class of 2026 and specializes in Complex Family Planning. She shared the following reflections on her work, advocacy, and what brings her joy.

What are your clinical or research interests?

Meeting patients where they’re at – finding ways to help medicine fit into people’s lives, not the other way around! My fellowship research project is looking at the feasibility of offering self-swab STI testing at the time of telemedication abortion. Other clinical interests include DEI in healthcare.

What current policy issue motivates you to be an advocate?

So many. The Dobbs decision was heartbreaking for me and showed me how important it is, now more than ever, for abortion advocates to organize and create a movement towards both restoring and expanding reproductive healthcare rights. The current administration’s actions against immigrant populations, DEI, abortion access, research and innovation, and evidence-based healthcare, while completely infuriating, continue to serve as constant motivators to continue working, advocating for equity and to find ways to interrupt cycles of oppression.

What local justice-centered organization do you wish we knew about?

Ma’i Movement: a Native-Hawaiian female-owned company whose goal is to end period poverty and menstrual inequity in Hawai’i.

What is bringing you joy these days?

Quality time with my loved ones, fur babies, watching great theatre.

Our Meet Our Advocates series showcases the talents and passion of one of our doctors and finds out, in their own words, what inspires them to be physician advocates. Learn more about the Leadership Training Academy.