New Class of Physician-Advocates Meets in DC
Our Leadership Training Academy, which prepares physicians to become lifelong leaders in reproductive health care advocacy, held its first in-person session for the Class of 2018 last month in Washington, DC. The session consisted of 4 days of intensive communications and advocacy training, which culminated in a trip to Capitol Hill to advocate for insurance coverage for abortion and contraception.
This incredible group of physician-advocates represent eight different medical specialties and work in 20 different states, making it our most diverse class to date. They join 284 Academy alumni working in 43 states to improve access to and eradicate the stigma surrounding comprehensive reproductive health care for women and their families. You can get to know many of our current Academy fellows by following the “Meet Our Advocates” series.
Meet Our Advocates: Dr. Bill Leininger
For our ongoing Meet Our Advocates series, we interviewed Dr. Bill Leininger (CAPT, MC, USN, Retired), an obstetrician/gynecologist who practices in San Diego. He spoke about what inspired him to become a doctor, his Navy career, and the policy issues that motivate his advocacy.
Running for Repro Health
Last week in Central Park, 13 incredible advocates ran in a four-mile race as part of our Repro Health Raisers campaign and raised over $9,000 for our programs. These supporters are turning their hobbies, passions, and special occasions into valuable support, and you can too! Become a Repro Health Raiser today.
READ MORE about the Repro Health Raisers campaign
Programs You Make Possible
As we approach the end of the first year of the Trump administration’s egregious attacks on every aspect of women’s reproductive health care, the need to fully fund our programs is more essential than ever. Will you make a $15 contribution to our end of year campaign?
SEE WHY we are Charity Navigator’s #1 rated reproductive health/rights organization
Staff Spotlight: Jenna Kronenberg
We are thrilled to announce that Jenna Kronenberg has joined the Physicians staff as Engagement Assistant. She is a graduate of Vassar College and will soon receive her MS in Nonprofit Management from the Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Policy at the New School.
Jenna has worked in nonprofit administration for the past several years, including at the JCC Manhattan and the Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP). Her first foray into the world of fundraising and development was at MarbleJam Kids, an organization that provides creative arts therapies for children and young adults. In addition to producing New Jersey’s first inclusive film camp for students of all abilities, she aided the organization as they grew from a desk in the director’s bedroom to a multi-studio operation. Jenna became passionate about helping smaller, mission-driven organizations thrive, which led her to her current academic endeavors. Evidence of a lifelong commitment to reproductive health and rights crept into Jenna’s graduate papers, and she soon became involved with development work at RHAP.
She is a member of Nu Lambda Mu, the national honors society for students of nonprofit management, and the proud caretaker of a toothless orange cat. After two years spent in a largely academic setting, she’s thrilled to be involved with Physicians, doing work on the ground for reproductive health access.
What We Said
- Azar will not put patients’ interests first at HHS
- Abortion Provider Nondiscrimination Amendment Act enables health care providers to best serve their patients
- H.R. 490 an unconstitutional attack on reproductive health care
Physicians in the News
This month, our doctors were on high alert. They spoke out for Jane Doe, an unaccompanied minor who was being held hostage in immigration custody from access to the abortion care she wanted. Drs. Nancy Stanwood and Jenn Conti warned that forcing Jane Doe to wait could harm her physical health and cause damaging psychological effects, and Dr. Anjani Kolahi confirmed undocumented immigrants often face “insurmountable barriers” to abortion access.
In response to the House Judiciary subcommittee’s hearing about H.R. 490, a bill that would ban abortions after six weeks, Dr. Willie Parker said the bill would “essentially ban all abortion care” and was cruel and unconstitutional. Dr. Anne Davis added: most women are not likely to even know they are pregnant at six weeks.
READ MORE about our physicians in the news
