“As an immigrant woman who had pursued medicine with the explicit goal of becoming an abortion provider, I found myself deeply frustrated with all the various barriers in place to stop us from receiving abortion training during residence. There were so many political hurdles as well as gatekeeping efforts from fellowship-trained specialists, keeping us from accessing training in this essential, healing, life-saving medical procedure. Once I found the training I needed, I was then faced with the daunting task of funding this “away rotation” on a resident’s salary. The Slepian Fund came to my rescue.”

 

“What a privilege it was to receive the Slepian Grant. The grant afforded me the training that I desired as a medical student, but it was Dr. Slepian’s life that truly inspired me as a physician. I strive to one day become a doctor of such strong character, passion and courage.”

 

“I completed residency in a program that was particularly hostile toward abortion training. Thanks to the Slepian Training Grant, I was able to train to competency in first trimester surgical abortions during residency and now am providing those services in my community. This would have been impossible without the generous support of the Slepian Clinical Training Grant. Access to abortion has been greatly expanded because of their efforts and philanthropy.”

 

“I had struggled to find experiences here in Indiana to train in abortion care.  It is an extremely conservative environment with very aggressive anti-abortion groups. The cost of travel, housing, and an increase in my malpractice insurance would have been prohibitive were it not for the Slepian Fund support.”

 

“I want to give a huge thanks to everyone who is behind this program! I am so appreciative right now and want you all to know how important this is to me and to a lot of people in my situation who are trying to become the next generation of abortion providers.”

 

“What a privilege it was to receive the Slepian Grant. The grant afforded me the training that  I desired as a medical student, but it was Dr. Slepian’s life that truly inspired me as a physician. I strive to one day become a doctor of such strong character, passion and courage.”

 

“In my training program, I felt as if I was working in an environment much like Dr. Slepian did, as I went to work amidst people holding up graphic signs, trying to hand me rosaries, and sprinkling holy water on me and the clinic. I felt truly privileged to be able to provide such a life – altering procedure to so many women in a safe, respectful setting.”

 

“I will use my abortion training to improve not only my own clinical experience and knowledge, but also to gain facts and insight that I can share with my fellow medical students. This training will allow me to show my classmates that abortion is a procedure that should be the concern for all future medical providers, not just future abortion providers.”

 

“Thanks to the Slepian Fund, I was able to travel to complete my training in abortion care. As a practicing family physician, I am happy to say I continue to provide full scope reproductive health services including abortion.  I also teach many residents and students who I hope will be tomorrow’s providers.”

 

“I am deeply grateful for your generous gift in support of my abortion training with the Midwest Access Project.This was the most important rotation of my medical school career.”

 

“Because of the Slepian Grant, I was able to see firsthand how access to abortion and the ability to have planned, wanted pregnancies is so essential to the health of women and their families. It also meant a lot to me that Slepian Grant is in honor of Dr. Slepian, as I  truly feel that because of this experience I had, which the grant made possible, I will someday be following in his footsteps and be inspired to provide healthcare to women the way that he did – comprehensively and compassionately.”