Reproductive Health & Justice

We support faculty time to engage in critical research and advocacy efforts in two specific areas: Reproductive Health & Justice and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), in particular on Obstetrics.

Reproductive Health & Justice

Our research focus is on expanding access to contraceptives, expanding the choices patients have, and fighting coercion.

We have been active in advocacy, at both the local, state, and Federal levels in the last year, including:

  • oral and written testimony for the ACCESS bill expanding contraception services (MA)
  • advocated for the ROE Act, which codified the right to an abortion in MA
  • participated in a White House Round table discussion on abortion access with VP Kamala Harris
  • organized the campus wide event: Fighting for Reproductive Justice after Roe v. Wade: What to Know, What to Do.
  • Integrated advocacy into how we train all of our learners (medical students, residents, fellows) so that we are amplifying our impact. We are actively training future advocates who will use their voices to shape reproductive health across many states

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), in particular on Obstetrics

We have expanded our advocacy and research in DEI over the last year, with a particular focus on anti-racism work in our obstetrical unit. Initiatives include:

  • After an initial climate survey demonstrated that we could improve our workplace culture to create a more inclusive environment for all staff, we have started this year a series of trainings, with the objectives to:
    • develop a clear understanding of equity and inclusion concepts among clinical and administrative OB/GYN leaders
    • provide guidance and practice to leaders in addressing microaggressions and discriminatory behavior, including how to give constructive feedback, and manage change and conflict
    • increase efficacy in driving change and managing resulting conflict and resistance
  • We are expanding our ‘Equity in Pregnancy’ research portfolio, with a focus on identifying the key in-patient and out-patient drivers of Severe Maternal Morbidity, which our research has shown that Black patients have 1.7 times higher than white patients at BMC.
  • This research will help us target interventions to address and eliminate these disparities in maternal outcomes, stratified by race. https://youtu.be/GE7x58IbRvE