DESERT STAR INSTITUTE FOR FAMILY PLANNING INC

Next Generation Abortion Providers Program trains medical students, residents, and attending physicians in reproductive health care with an emphasis on abortion training. Clinical instruction includes abortion, contraception, early pregnancy loss, other common women's health conditions, and care of transgender adults. To date, people from 21 states and 3 regions of Canada have traveled to Phoenix to be trained. We apply a reproductive justice lens to our work, so trainees have and experience very different from their traditional clinical rotations. We believe that learning about abortion in an environment where abortion occurs alongside general well-woman care increases student awareness and understanding that abortion is health care. In turn, they are inspired to advocate for women's reproductive healthcare access and delivery, and are empowered to become advocates within their own communities. 2 - 4 week rotations can be scheduled at the Desert Star Health Justice Clinic. We are a preferred site for the Medical Students for Choice Reproductive Health Externship Program and now have partnerships with several additional organizations as referral sources for training. 5 people were trained over 16 total training weeks in 2024. Impacted by the political landscape and looming 1864 total abortion ban that was ultimately repealed, we paused our training program as we awaited how the litigation and additional efforts by the attorney general would impact our ability to provide abortion services, and thereby train. Two trainee institutions canceled rotations for their learners during that time.