Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) has a long-standing commitment to family planning. Dr Kenneth J. Ryan, for whom the national 'Ryan Program' is named, was the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1973 to 1993. Under his leadership the hospital began offering abortion services and OBGYN resident training in abortion in 1973 with the legalization of abortion with the Roe v. Wade decision. Abortion services and training for residents has been ongoing ever since.
The Brigham and Women's Hospital-Harvard Medical School Complex Family Planning (BWH-HMS CFP) Fellowship program began in July of 2005. The BWH-HMS CFP fellowship is accredited with The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Our fellows gain a wide range of clinical experience at three academic hospitals, and a large Planned Parenthood affiliate.
Trainees per year: one
Fellowship length: two years
Salary: Mass General Brigham (MGB) GME PGY5 level salary first year, MGB GME PGY6 level salary second year
Benefits: 4 weeks of vacation per year. MGB benefits package including medical and dental insurance along with retirement funding and malpractice coverage. Learn more about MGB GME salary and benefits.
Year program began: 2005
Program Director: Alisa B. Goldberg, MD, MPH
Associate Program Director: Kari P. Braaten, MD, MPH
Our mission is to develop obstetrician-gynecologist leaders in abortion and contraception through training in clinical care, research, and education.
We envision a world in which clinical care, health systems and public policy promote reproductive autonomy and justice for all people, and particularly for individuals whose reproductive capacity and freedoms are currently devalued. This includes individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color, people with disabilities, lower socioeconomic status, and members of LGBTQIA+, immigrant and minority religious communities. We recognize that intersection of multiple marginalized identities may result in additional challenges to achieving reproductive autonomy and justice.
Fellows complete courses in research methodology through the Harvard Catalyst program. Fellows who don't already have an MPH complete the NIH IPPCR clinical research certificate program in their first year. Fellows learn hands-on research implementation by designing and completing an independent research project, mentored by our experienced faculty, and learning from the expert research staff at PPLM. Fellows have completed a wide variety of types of research including prospective and retrospective clinical studies, qualitative and mixed-method studies.
Mentorship is provided by the Complex Family Planning faculty. At BWH this includes four ABOG board certified CFP physicians and a PhD social scientist. Additional mentors include CFP faculty at our other clinical sites, as well as several other OB/GYN physicians with extensive family planning experience. Fellows meet with the fellowship directors regularly, as well as with their research mentors, which may also include faculty outside of the division.
The Division of Family Planning has a weekly lecture series with lectures given by our faculty, fellows, residents, sub-interns, and outside invited speakers. Additionally, the fellows have a monthly teaching session with the associate program director, covering core topics from the CFP fellowship curriculum. Weekly BWH OB/GYN department grand rounds as well as other division and department-wide didactics are also available to the fellows. Annual special lectures and events focusing on Reproductive Health and Women’s health are sponsored by Harvard Medical School, the Connor’s Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology, and the Division of Women’s Health, all of which are available to the fellows.
For entry into ACGME-accredited fellowship programs, individuals must have completed in an ACGME-accredited residency program, or in an RCPSC-accredited or CFPC-accredited program located in Canada. Applicants must be legally able to work in the U.S., or eligible to obtain work authorization. If you have questions, please contact bwhcomplexfp@mgb.org.
Application Requirements:
Learn more about the Fellowship in Family Planning and how to apply
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