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U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra condemned the Supreme Court decision to strike down Roe v. Wade and vowed his agency would do everything possible to help patients make the best choices possible.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra

Becerra said in a news conference Tuesday he would work to ensure access to medication abortion and also vowed to inform the public that he said is getting misinformation. President Biden has directed the department to do everything possible to ensure access to patients, Becerra said.

“There is no magic bullet but if there is something we can do, we will find it, and we will do it,” he said.

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The health and human services department won’t tolerate leaks of patient information regarding reproductive health choices. He said the agency would investigate any healthcare providers that disclose private patient information.

Patients have a fundamental right to privacy, Becerra said. 

“We will make sure we investigate and enforce the law to make sure providers are in compliance," he said.

“We will enforce any violations of those rights,” he added.

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When asked, Becerra didn’t specify if the department would engage in any new audits or surveys to determine providers were complying with federal laws. He didn't specify the nature of the enfocement actions.

“We will keep every option on the table … to enforce the law,” he said.

Becerra said the ruling created “a moment of crisis in healthcare.”

 that there’s no constitutional right to an abortion now poses sober questions for healthcare systems and physicians. The court ruling has given states the authority to allow or deny access to abortion services, and bans have already taken effect in some states. As many as 26 states could bar access to abortion.

The ruling “put at risk the life and health of millions of our fellow Americans," Becerra said.

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The secretary called the court’s decision “despicable but not unpredictable.”

While he said he has a task force working on reproductive health issues, Becerra also said his agency was still working to understand what guidance it could give Americans in states that either no longer offer abortion or are on the cusp of passing laws to prohibit abortion.

At times, Becerra said all options were on the table to help patients, but he also said the health department was still determining the agency’s authority to help patients and stay within the law.

Still, Becerra outlined five steps the agency would be taking.

HHS is going to increase access to medication abortion, Becerra said. When asked if the FDA would speed up supplies, Becerra said he would let that agency speak for itself. “We are working with the FDA to make sure they have every opportunity to continue to provide Americans with access to safe and effective treatments," he said.

Second, Becerra said he is directing the HHS Office for Civil Rights “to ensure patient privacy and nondiscrimination” for patients seeking reproductive health care, as well as for providers who offer reproductive health care.

The secretary said he’s directing the department to review its authority under the Emergency Medical Treatment Act, a federal law requiring providers to treat and stabilize patients who arrive in emergency departments. Becerra said he wants to ensure the judgment of doctors and hospitals is supported and that abortion care “can be appropriate to stabilize patients.”

Becerra said he’s directing all HHS agencies to ensure that providers, including doctors and pharmacists, have the training and resources to handle family planning needs.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is being directed to take “every legally available step to protect family planning care,” including emergency contraceptives and other contraceptives, such as IUDs.

Since some states have already enacted abortion bans, Becerra was asked if it’s the health department’s position that any doctor in the country can prescribe medication abortion. He said the department is still working on its guidance to healthcare providers.

“We’re going to stay within the confines of the law, even though it’s a law I believe jeopardizes the health of women,” Becerra said.

Becerra said the department will act if states are blocking a particular type of care for patients in an emergency department. 

“We will take action. We will do everything we can,” he said. However, he did not specify what those actions would entail.

Becerra also said he would ensure federally-supported programs and services comply with the law. “Federal law requires our programs to provide medication abortion in limited circumstances, including life of the mother, rape, or incest,” he said.

During the news conference, Becerra repeatedly denounced the Supreme Court ruling.

“The Supreme Court decision will result in worsened outcomes and death for some patients,” he said.

When the court announced the ruling Friday, Becerra said he was at a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis. He said he saw the impact play out in real time, as the clinic almost immediately stopped providing care.

“People in the room were visibly shaken,” he said. “There were tears.”

Later in the day, Becerra said he traveled across the state line into Illinois and visited a clinic that was able to continue providing abortions. 

“A short drive can make such a dire and draconian difference in healthcare outcomes,” he said.

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Xavier Becerra pledged to expand access but said there's no "magic bullet." He said his agency will investigate any leaks of patient information.

HHS secretary vows action after abortion ruling, warns providers to protect patient privacy

With some states already barring abortions after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last week, hospitals and health systems are facing some difficult decisions.

 Friday there is no constitutional right to an abortion, leaving the decision up to individual states.

Since the court ruled Friday, 15 states have abortion bans due to “trigger laws” that have taken effect or will take effect within a month, according to 

, which tracks reproductive health policy, estimates 26 states will prohibit abortion in the coming months.

The law raises questions for hospitals and health systems, including their duties under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, a federal law requiring hospitals to treat and stabilize patients who arrive in emergency departments.

Melinda Hatton, general counsel of the American Hospital Association, said the court’s ruling “will have practical impacts on hospitals and health systems, including on health care provided across state lines, EMTALA obligations, maternal health care, the clinician-patient relationship, medical education and access to care for individuals regardless of socioeconomic status.”

“We are committed to helping our member hospitals and health systems navigate the evolving landscape consistent with AHA’s mission of advancing the health of all individuals and communities,” she said in a statement.

In Ohio, a state law bars abortion at six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions to protect the life of the mother. Ohio is expected to enact more sweeping legislation later this year, the 

The University Hospitals system based in Cleveland said in a statement, “Like other healthcare systems, University Hospitals is carefully reviewing the recent Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade and working to understand the full impact it will have on our patients and healthcare providers.”

The BHSH Health System in Michigan reversed course within two days of the ruling. Initially, the system said Friday it would only perform an abortion if the mother’s life was threatened. Abortion remains legal in Michigan, as a court order has blocked a state abortion ban.

 Sunday saying it has “evolved” its approach while a battle over the state law plays out. 

“Given the uncertainties and confusion surrounding its enforcement, until there is clarity, we will continue our practice of providing abortions when medically necessary,” the system said.

“We continue to believe that these decisions are both personal and private and best made between a woman and her physician,” the system said. “In 2021, the entire BHSH System performed approximately 60 therapeutic, medically necessary abortions that required hospital level care. We have not and will not perform elective abortions. We continue to provide care for women’s health, including reproductive needs. We will support our physicians and patients through a multidisciplinary, local committee as they navigate this challenging landscape.”

Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, said the group is working to understand the implications of the ruling.

“Above all, we will seek legal guidance to protect healthcare providers and patients from incurring any unintentional criminal liability, harassment or negative health consequences due to a lack of clarity about Michigan’s law regarding reproductive healthcare services,” Peters said in a 

‘Greater disparities in maternal health’

Some health systems said they intend to do whatever is possible to protect patients.

Leaders at Johns Hopkins said they plan to continue to provide the same services within the scope of the law. The system is concentrated in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. markets and operates a children’s hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

“To the fullest extent allowed under the law, our institutions will continue to be guided by the evidence-based best practices established by medical and public health faculty experts and practitioners, which make clear that access to safe, legal abortion is critical for the health of individuals, families, and communities,” Johns Hopkins leaders said in a 

Bruce Siegel, president and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals, said his organization is worried about the impact of the Supreme Court ruling.

“We are concerned about how today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision might affect access to care and maternal health, especially among low-income and marginalized people, and the ability of providers to deliver care without fear of possible criminalization,” Siegel said in a statement Friday.

Healthcare groups have condemned the court ruling, saying it will threaten the lives of patients and dangerously intrude on the physician-patient relationship. They also say the ruling will worsen healthcare inequality, since many women won’t be able to afford to travel hundreds of miles for an abortion.

Many healthcare officials have said the court’s decision, and subsequent state laws, won’t stop abortions, but will simply stop safe access to abortions.

The Supreme Court ruling could have other profound effects on healthcare, Siegel said.

“This decision could inspire policies that result in an uneven distribution of providers across states, greater disparities in maternal health, and conflicts between state and federal laws,” he said in his statement.

“For example, providers might face concerns about how to reconcile state restrictions with their obligations under federal law to stabilize and treat emergency department patients. A chilling effect on physician training and shortages of obstetrician-gynecologists in some states also could follow this ruling.”

The high court struck down Roe v. Wade, and with some states already enacting laws to prohibit abortions, health systems face some difficult decisions.

Young people who are victims of cyberbullying are more likely to think about suicide, according to a new study.

The authors said the findings indicate the value of healthcare professionals asking young patients if they are having trouble with cyberbullying. The study was published Monday on 

Researchers at Reichman University in Israel and the University of Pennsylvania examined more than 10,000 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 13. They found the tie between cyberbullying and suicidal thoughts surpassed other risk factors, including being harassed offline.

“These findings can inform adolescent suicide prevention strategies, and they suggest that clinicians and educational staff working with this population should routinely evaluate for adolescents’ experience with cyberbullying,” the authors wrote.

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Suicide among young people is a major health problem, the study noted. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. for those between the ages of 10 and 24.

Much bullying among young people occurs online and is taking place on social media or via text messages, the authors wrote.

The study found 9% of the young people surveyed were victims of cyberbullying. Among the 10,414 young studied, 796 (7.6%) said they had thought about suicide or attempted it.

While experiencing cyberbullying was associated with thoughts of suicide, perpertrating cyberbullying was not, the authors wrote. The researchers noted previous studies have indicated both those experiencing and engaging in acts of cyberbullying were both at high risk of suicidation.

Female and Black youths were the most likely to experience cyberbullying, the researchers said.

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Most of those experiencing cyberbullying said they weren’t being bullied or harassed offline, which contracts with previous studies, the authors said. The researchers found that significant because it suggests those experiencing cyberbullying are different from those affected by aggressive behavior offline.

“Screening for cyberbullying experiences may detect youths at risk who are not detected when screening for offline peer aggression experiences,” the authors wrote.

The responses from the youth participating in the study indicate that cyberbullying is “an independent stressor” linked with thoughts of suicide.

The findings carry potentially valuable insights for both healthcare professionals and researchers, the authors wrote.

“For clinicians working directly with adolescents, this work suggests that cyberbullying experiences are associated with suicidality over and above multiple known risk factors; therefore, it may be prudent to ask adolescents about this exposure as part of primary care evaluations,” the authors wrote.

Researchers should conduct additional studies of cyberbullying to examine the link between cyberbullying and suicidal thoughts, they added.

In addition, policymakers who are interested in improving efforts to prevent suicide among young people should look at cyberbullying, the authors wrote. Further study is needed to determine the impact of communicating online, including cyberbullying, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you're struggling or someone you know is struggling, help is available through the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Call 800-273-TALK (8255). The hotline is available around the clock.

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Healthcare professionals should be asking young people if they are being bullied or harassed online, the authors wrote.

Cyberbullying tied to suicidal thoughts among kids, study finds

Lawmakers are moving a bill that could help struggling young physicians who have to choose between paying their heavy student loan debt and saving for retirement.

The Senate Finance Committee approved a bill last week that would give medical students more options to save money for their future. The 

, dubbed The Retirement Parity for Student Loans Act, allows employers to make “matching” contributions to 401(k) plans if workers are making student loan payments.

Under the measure, those student loan payments would essentially be viewed as retirement plan contributions, and organizations could make matching payments to their employees’ 401(k) plans.

The bill now moves to the full Senate. The U.S. House of Representatives previously approved the legislation by an overwhelming 414-5 vote.

The American Medical Association has been pushing lawmakers to approve the bill. Federal officials and healthcare advocates have bemoaned the shortage of physicians, and health leaders have said the high cost of medical school is a barrier to promising students from pursuing careers as doctors.

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“With medical students forced to take on low-paying residency and fellowship positions for up to eight years post-graduation, this debt-burdened generation of trainees often must forego contributing to their retirement to make student loans payments,” Jack Resneck Jr., the AMA’s president, said in a 

“This legislation wisely allows retirement plans to make voluntary matching contributions to workers as if their student loan payments were salary reduction contributions.”

In 2019, roughly three-quarters (73%) of medical school students graduated with an average student loan debt of $200,000, the AMA noted in its support of the bill.

Medical student debt is expected to keep growing. In 2020-21, first-year medical students attending public medical schools paid 10% more than students did the previous year.

Medical students will have to take on even larger loans in the future as education costs keep rising, the AMA noted in a 

Healthcare leaders have cited the heavy medical student debt as a key reason that many students from minority groups don’t pursue careers as doctors. 

About 5% of the nation’s doctors are Black

, and roughly 5% of physicians are Hispanic, according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Advocates have said improving the diversity in the physician workforce is a key step in eliminating disparities in health outcomes in minority groups.

“Medical students come from all walks of life, and many accumulate debt every year as a student and post-graduate,” Resneck said in a statement. “We know that many rural and underserved areas are desperate for young physicians, and shouldering a mountain of debt threatens their ability to serve in those areas. This legislation would increase health care access for all Americans, and we look forward to working with Congress to move it forward.”

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced the Senate version of the bill in the spring. Wyden said he’s a strong supporter of student debt forgiveness, but he said it’s important to offer some relief while pursuing the broader goal.

“Right now, generations of Americans are struggling under the crushing burden of student debt,” Wyden said in a statement when he introduced the bill. “They are putting off buying a home, having children and saving for retirement to pay down their student loans. As the cost of higher education continues to skyrocket, so does the debt.

“Americans need to be able to save for retirement, even while repaying their loans,” he said.

The American Psychological Association has also pressed Congress to 

, including loan repayment programs. The high debt impedes some from minority groups in pursuing doctoral degrees in psychology, the APA said.

Young physicians often have to skip 401(k) payment because they’re making loan payments. The AMA is backing a bill that would offer some relief.

Bill in Congress could help doctors with heavy student debt

If Arati Prabhakar is confirmed as President Biden’s top science adviser, she will break new ground in more than one way.

Prabhakar is the first woman to be nominated to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. She’s also the first person of color and the first immigrant to be nominated for the post, the White House said.

She brings formidable credentials. Prabhakar previously directed the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which helped lead to the development of the Internet, stealth technology and GPS systems.

Before taking the post at DARPA, she led the National Institute of Standards and Technology. That post also requires Senate confirmation, and she received unanimous support from the Senate for that role.

“Dr. Prabhakar is a brilliant and highly-respected engineer and applied physicist and will lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy to leverage science, technology, and innovation to expand our possibilities, solve our toughest challenges, and make the impossible possible,” Biden said last week.

Eric Lander, Biden’s previous science adviser, stepped down in February after reports emerged that he had treated staffers badly, the 

 reported. Lander’s resignation was the first cabinet-level departure in the Biden administration.

Francis Collins, the longtime director of the National Institutes of Health, has been serving as Biden’s acting science adviser.

Prabhakar’s nomination received strong endorsements from advocates for scientific research, such as Mary Woolley, president and CEO of Research!America.

“We believe Dr. Prabhakar will work effectively across the federal government to help ensure science, technology, and innovation can continue to drive economic growth, create good jobs, and address urgent threats to our health and well-being,” Woolley said in a statement.

“The American science enterprise and the American public will be well-served by her leadership, and we urge Congress to confirm her nomination as OSTP Director as swiftly as possible.”

Prabhakar began her career as a science and technology policy fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Sudip Parikh, CEO of the AAAS, said in a statement that Prabhakar brings “the right combination of expertise, vision, and rapport to assume the top dual science position as the nation navigates public health challenges, climate change, emerging technologies, and other issues where science plays a critical role.”

Prabhakar’s leadership at DARPA would be especially beneficial as the Biden administration establishes a new federal research agency, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, dubbed ARPA-H, Parikh said. Congress authorized the creation of ARPA-H in the 

The White House has said the agency would focus on high-risk, high-reward research aimed at reaching breakthroughs in cancer and other diseases. It’s envisioned as an agency similar to DARPA, with a focus on medical research.

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“Her previous leadership at DARPA, which led to pioneering work on RNA technology underlying COVID-19 vaccines, will be invaluable as ARPA-H applies the DARPA model to drive biomedical and health breakthroughs that will address diseases affecting a significant number of Americans,” Praikh said.

In addition, “Prabhakar’s historic appointment as the first woman and person of color to lead OSTP would bring an important voice to equity issues across the scientific enterprise,” Praikh said.

Neal Lane, former director of the National Science Foundation and former President Clinton’s science adviser, told 

 that Prabhakar is “a natural leader.”

Prabhakar, who was born in India, was three years old when her family came to the United States. They first lived in Chicago but later moved to Texas. She graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University and later earned a Ph.D. in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology.

In addition to her leadership experience in federal science agencies, Prabhakar has spent 15 years in Silicon Valley, the White House noted. In 2019, she founded Actuate, a non-profit group aimed at taking a fresh approach on issues such as climate change and chronic diseases.

The president has chosen Arati Prabhakar to lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Science advocates say her experience could be invaluable in helping establish a new health research agency.

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The Mayo Clinic has announced two leaders are taking on new responsibilities, while another key figure is leaving the health system.

Paula Menkosky will assume the Mayo Clinic’s enterprise chief human resources officer role. She will move out of her current post as the chief administrative officer of Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Menkosky is succeeding Cathy Fraser, the Mayo Clinic’s chief human resources officer, who is leaving the organization to pursue a new opportunity, the system said. The  transitions are slated to take effect Aug. 12.

Gianrico Farrugia, Mayo Clinic’s president and CEO, described Menkosky as “an outstanding executive leader.”

“I am very glad Mayo Clinic will continue to benefit from her expertise and values-driven approach as she leads our people strategy,” he said in a news release announcing the moves.

Marialena Murphy, Mayo Clinic in Arizona’s chief nursing officer, will serve as interim chief administrative officer, the system said. A search is underway for a new chief administrative officer at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, the system said.

BHSH names diversity officer of newly merged system

Carlos Cubia is joining the BHSH System in Michigan as its chief inclusion, equity, diversity and sustainability officer.

He plans to take the new post in the newly merged system on June 30. The system was formed in the merger of Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health.

Cubia comes to the BHSH System from Walgreens Boots Alliance, where he has served as senior vice president, global chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer since 2017. Previously, he served as a vice president at Covidien, Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

In a news release, he expressed enthusiasm for his new role.

“Despite the life-altering impacts of COVID-19, systemic racism and social determinants that affect some people more than others, I see real promise,” Cubia said in a statement.

“We know that if we are to succeed in helping people live healthier, happier lives, we must create a culture in which DE&I and health equity are at the center. I am honored to help develop and champion the strategies that will bring that about through BHSH System.”

HCA Healthcare hospital in Va. announces new CEO

Lauren Dudley has been hired as the chief executive officer of LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, an HCA Healthcare medical center in Virginia.

She succeeds Alan Fabian, who was recently elevated to LewisGale Regional Health System market president.

Dudley brings over 14 years of experience in the healthcare industry and has held leadership roles at large and small hospitals within HCA Healthcare. She is serving as the chief operating officer for HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, where she helped led a $120 million fundraising campaign for an expansion project.

“It’s an exciting time for both LewisGale Hospital Montgomery and the community with the current expansion of the hospital’s surgery department,” Dudley said in a statement. “I’m eager to collaborate with the hospital’s internal and external stakeholders to collectively increase access to high-quality patient care right here in the New River Valley.”

Fabian said Dudley has succeeded in expanding services and finding efficiencies at several HCA facilities.

“I’m certain she’ll continue to build on a solid foundation and path forward for LewisGale Hospital Montgomery’s continued growth and success, anchored by industry-leading quality and colleague engagement.”

CarolinaEast health system hires new chief executive

Michael Smith has been named the president and chief executive officer of CarolinaEast Health System.

He has served as CarolinaEast’s vice president of physician practice management since August 2010. Smith is succeeding Ray Leggett, who said he is retiring in January. Leggett’s last day will be June 30.

Smith, a certified public accountant, worked at several accounting firms before joining CarolinaEast. Since joining the health system, Smith was credited with recruiting top physicians to CarolinaEast. He was also a part of the leadership team that helped negotiate CarolinaEast’s affiliation with UNC Health, the system said in a news release.

“It is truly an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to serve in this leadership role in a growing and dynamic health care system that includes the hospital where I was born,” Smith said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the CarolinaEast Board, our administrative leaders, outstanding physicians, and our very capable and dedicated staff to continue to serve our community and region.”

Adventist Health Clear Lake selects president

Colleen Assavapisitkul has been named the news president at Adventist Health Clear Lake in Clearlake, California.

Assavapisitkul is a nurse and has served with Adventist Health Clear Lake in leadership roles for over 10 years, and she has been the hospital’s vice president of patient care since 2016. Before joining the facility, she worked in healthcare positions around the world, including posts in Hawaii, Thailand, Oregon and Washington.

At Adventist Health Clear Lake, she previously served as director of quality/infection control, administrative director of patient care and chief nursing officer.

"Over the 10 years I’ve worked in Clear Lake leading the care of our patients, I’ve been inspired and motivated by our employees, providers, and partners and I look forward to building on our success,” Assavapisitkul said in a news statement.

“As we continue our journey to achieve our vision for Lake County and beyond, we will leverage past achievements and continue to pave the way for an excellent experience for our patients, their families, and our entire community.”

Adventist Health, a faith-based, nonprofit system, operates more than 400 sites of care on the West Coast and Hawaii.

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In other news, the BHSH System has named a diversity officer, an HCA Healthcare hospital gets a new CEO, and other leaders take new roles.

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The Supreme Court has determined that abortion is now a matter for the states, and some medical colleges now must wrestle with tough decisions in training the next generation of doctors.

After nearly 50 years since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, the high court 

 Friday that there’s no constitutional right to an abortion. The court’s conservative majority said the issue is now up to individual states.

Thirteen states have issued laws that prohibit abortion immediately or within a month, while seven more states are expected to prohibit abortion in the coming weeks or months, 

David J. Skorton, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, issued a statement denouncing the decision, saying the ruling will harm patients. Part of the training of doctors includes reproductive healthcare.

The ruling also complicates the training of future physicians, Skorton said Friday.

“It is crucial that physicians have comprehensive training in the full spectrum of reproductive health care, since similar medical procedures address many health conditions,” Skorton said in the statement. “All medical schools currently require students to complete a clerkship in obstetrics and gynecology, and OB-GYN residencies are required to provide training or access to training on the provision of abortions, though residents with objections may opt out of performing induced abortions.

“The AAMC will evaluate the court’s decision and its implications for medical education and health care,” Skorton said.

Analysts project as many as 26 states could impose restrictions on abortion. Nearly half (45%) of the nation’s obstetrics and gynecological residency programs are in states that are certain or likely to prohibit abortion, according to an April analysis in 

. So students in those programs are likely to have no access to in-state abortion training, the study found.

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Mary Sue Coleman, president of the University of Michigan, said she is worried about the court ruling’s impact on training doctors.

“Our campus is more than half women; we care about our own communities as well as those we serve through clinical care and education,” Coleman said in a 

. “I am deeply concerned about how prohibiting abortion would affect U-M’s medical teaching, our research, and our service to communities in need.”

Abortion remains legal in Michigan and Michigan Medicine said it would continue to offer abortion services.

“Many of the patients we see are diagnosed with fetal anomalies or experience other complications that make ongoing pregnancy and giving birth dangerous, or they have serious underlying illnesses or other needs that make abortion care in an outpatient facility not possible,” Michigan Medicine leaders said in a 

. “At Michigan Medicine’s hospitals, we primarily provide abortions for patients who need hospital-level care. Our commitment is to be there for those who need the specialized care we can offer.”

UW Medicine in Washington state said its students and residents will continue to learn about all aspects of reproductive healthcare, including abortion. Washington state law protects access to abortion services.

“As an integrated clinical, research and learning health system, UW Medicine is committed to training the next generation of healthcare professionals, and we believe that our medical students, residents and fellow trainees must learn about all aspects of reproductive healthcare, including family planning, contraception and abortion, to care for patients effectively and responsibly,” UW Medicine said in a 

UW Medicine said the school of medicine’s curriculum won’t change. Medical students aren’t required to participate in abortion care, but those who want clinical training in Washington will continue to be able to get it, the system said.

However, UW’s School of Medicine also serves neighboring states, including Idaho and Wyoming, which have trigger laws that are slated to bar abortion access following the high court’s ruling.

“Some OB-GYN and Family Medicine clerkship sites in states where abortion care was available will no longer offer abortion care to patients, and those educational opportunities may no longer exist,” the system said.

Robert N. Golden, dean of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, said the institution is “assessing how it may impact clinical training.”

“We remain completely dedicated to our patients, and will provide the best care possible and trustworthy, accurate medical information,” Golden said in a 

The high court’s ruling leaves abortion access in the hands of the states. Almost half the nation’s obstetrics and gynecology residency programs are in states that are expected to ban abortion.