SPOTLIGHT ON ABORTION CARE & REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE
Voices from the Frontlines:
Dr. Aliye Runyan on Becoming an Abortion Provider & Breaking Stigma
(Part 1)
Written by Araam Abboud, MS, AMSA Reproductive Health Project Intern
Below is an interview with Dr. Aliye Runyan, MD, an OB-GYN and abortion provider. I had the honor of speaking with Dr. Runyan about her experiences and the realities of providing abortion care today. Conversations like these matter—whether you’re a future provider, a patient, or someone passionate about reproductive healthcare, hearing directly from those doing this work helps us stay informed, connected, and ready to support one another.
Araam: To start off, could you tell us a little bit about yourself, including where you’re from and what you do now?
Dr. Runyan: I am AMSA’s reproductive health strategist, an OB-GYN, and an abortion provider. I live outside New York City, and provide care here and in northern New Jersey. I’m not originally from this area—I grew up in Florida and went to medical school there. Between medical school and residency, I worked for AMSA, which took me to the DC area. Then I completed my residency in Detroit, Michigan. I had decided long before residency that I wanted to provide abortion care, so after completing residency, I pursued a fellowship. I trained for a year in Utah before moving to New York, where I’ve been ever since.
Before Dobbs, I had dreams of living in Florida and traveling to provide care in the South. Of course, now the reality of that is quite different, but I do feel fortunate to have landed in New York for the time being, where there are protections in place.
Araam: Before we talk about the legal hurdles in abortion care, I was wondering if you could share what inspired you to become an abortion provider?
Dr. Runyan: It actually started with a job I took after undergrad and before applying to medical school. At the time, I wasn’t uncertain about medicine, but I was still figuring out if I wanted to pursue it full-time or explore adjacent health professions. I ended up working as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood in Tampa, Florida. My friend, who was a SANE volunteer, had connections there and told me about the job opening.
I worked there for almost two years before applying to medical school, and that experience stuck with me throughout my training. I told myself that I wouldn’t let one clinical experience determine my specialty—I wanted to go through all my rotations and figure out what I loved best. But even then, I saw how restrictive abortion care was in Florida, and this was 10 years ago. There were waiting periods, parental consent laws, and other restrictions that just seemed absurd. We were simply trying to provide medical care.
That experience made it clear to me that abortion providers were desperately needed,
and my work counseling patients at the clinic was incredibly meaningful. That’s why I do what I do.
Araam: I love that. You mentioned your dreams of going back to Florida and providing care in the South. How have restrictions in the South influenced your work in the North?
Dr. Runyan: Unfortunately, I now see patients from Florida and Texas, and that’s been happening even before Dobbs because Texas passed its restrictive bill first. We see patients from all over the Southeast, but primarily from Florida since there’s a strong connection between Florida and New York/New Jersey.
These patients shouldn’t have to travel here. The people I see are the ones who can afford to travel, but so many others can’t. This is exactly why providers used to travel to the South—to offer care where there weren’t enough local providers. I wanted to be part of that effort, to give back to my community. Now, it doesn’t feel great to be seeing so many Southern patients in the North, but I’m glad that at least we’re able to take care of them. In the future, I’d like to obtain additional state licenses and provide care where clinicians are most needed.
Araam: That’s amazing. Can you share a particularly meaningful experience from your work? It could be something recent or something from residency.
Dr. Runyan: Honestly, the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in abortion care aren’t just one story but a recurring theme—changing the narrative around how people experience abortion care.
Almost every day, I hear from patients who feel guilty about their abortion—not necessarily because they personally struggle with the decision, but because of the stigma imposed by society. Most people who seek abortion care know exactly what they need. Some have a difficult decision to make, but for many, it’s clear. And yet, even those who are sure they don’t want to be pregnant still feel the weight of external judgment.
I hear it in different ways—sometimes when a patient is falling asleep under anesthesia, sometimes in questions and concerns, and sometimes just as a general comment. People tell me they feel bad that they have to do this. Whenever that happens, I take the opportunity to remind them that their decision is okay, that this is normal. I try to normalize the idea that ending a pregnancy when it’s not the right time is a valid and responsible choice.
It’s deeply frustrating that so many people carry this burden of guilt.
The stigma around abortion has shaped how people experience their own medical care, and it’s unnecessary.
One in four women in this country will have an abortion. It’s incredibly common—just like miscarriage, which happens in one in three pregnancies. Breaking down that stigma and making abortion a less negative experience for people is one of the most important parts of my work.
Araam: How do you think we can break down that stigma?
Dr. Runyan: Honestly, by talking about it more, and by talking about it in a normal way. Saying the word “abortion” out loud, normalizing how common and safe it is, and debunking harmful myths.
For example, many patients ask if abortion will affect their future fertility. That’s a myth perpetuated by anti-abortion groups for decades. Historically, when abortion was illegal, unsafe procedures could cause complications, including infertility. And years ago, when providers used sharp instruments for the procedure, there was a risk of scarring. But today, safe abortion care does not impact fertility. A person can have multiple abortions and still conceive and carry a pregnancy with no complications.
By breaking down these myths and normalizing abortion as a medical procedure, we can reveal these restrictions for what they really are:
an attack on bodily autonomy and human rights.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where Dr. Runyan shares her thoughts on Abortion Provider Appreciation Day, how communities can better support providers, and the biggest challenges facing abortion care today.
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*Note: an excerpt of this Spotlight is included in AMSA Reproductive Health Project eNews #43
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