Written by Rohini Kousalya Siva, AMSA National President-elect & Board of Trustees Reproductive Health Project Liaison,
Rohini is a 4th year medical student at Eastern Virginia Medical School
AMSA’s Reproductive Justice Resolutions with Actions for the New Year
As we come to the end of yet another year, it’s a good time to take stock of things this year brought into our lives. Our accomplishments, our failures, our moments of joy, our moments of despair, and our moments of action. This year will go down in history as the year The Supreme Court of the United States took action that stripped hard-won rights away from Americans – it will also be recorded as the year The People took action uniting to ensure this first time is the last.
The 1974 Roe V. Wade landmark decision was a giant progressive step in the direction of expanding civil rights and human rights in our nation – this was a moment of accomplishment. On June 24, 2022 when The SCOTUS announced their decision to break 49 years of precedent and overturn Roe our federal protection of abortion rights in all states was lost – this brought moments of despair and failure. Then on November 8 our collective moments of action led to record breaking numbers of young people and voters to show up on Election Day to vote for our future and to vote for abortion rights – this was our moment of united advocacy joy!
This was the moment when voters chose a path of advocacy boldness, a path to shout out and demand our rights, a path to progress and better health care for all! This historic year will and must be remembered as a time when people rallied and mobilized for reproductive freedom and abortion rights.
As this New Year dawns it brings to us new and renewed hope, as well as time to revel in our successes. These come alongside the opportunities to identify areas of improvement and make plans to build on our successes – some call these New Year’s Resolutions.
At AMSA we’ve been self-reflecting, looking outside ourselves to acknowledge what people have voiced and fought for this year, and we’ve begun penning our 2023 action resolutions. We invite and welcome your review and comments on our plans below.
AMSA 2023 Reproductive Justice Action Plans, we resolve to deepen our work to engage, mobilize and support future physicians in building skills and raising their voices to protect reproductive rights and expand access to abortion care.
As the decision overturning Roe has caused turmoil in clinics, residency programs, and at medical schools in states around the country we want to hear and learn from you! Stay tuned for details in January for the kick-off of our first AMSA Reproductive Justice Listening Tour!
Meanwhile check out these action opportunities available now:
1. Research, present, network, and boost your CV at AMSACon 2023!
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- Scholarships are available to AMSA premedical and medical student members to present posters on abortion care and reproductive justice topics – Apply Here
2. Calling Repro Freedom Dreamers & Doers!
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- Applications for the 2023 AMSA Reproductive Health Institute are NOW OPEN!
Learn More & Apply Here
- Applications for the 2023 AMSA Reproductive Health Institute are NOW OPEN!
3. Explore Opportunities to Build-skills & Engage Your Classmates!
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- Hands-on Manual Vacuum Aspiration Virtual & In-person Training – Interest form
- Abortion Care & Reproductive Justice Films & Discussion Session – Interest form
- State of the Union Watch Party w Repro Justice Twist – Interest Form
Please send your questions, comments and suggestions to rhp@amsa.org
