Watch: Medical Residents Are Increasingly Avoiding Abortion Ban States

By Vaughn Hillyard On May 21, 2024

May 21, 2024

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 On KFF Health News’ “What the Health?,” chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner sat down with Atul Grover of the Association of American Medical Colleges to talk about its recent analysis showing that graduating medical students are avoiding training in states with abortion bans and major restrictions. Among those who applied for residencies this year, that was true not only for aspiring OB-GYNs and others who regularly treat pregnant patients, but for all specialties. Fourteen states, primarily in the Midwest and South, have banned nearly all abortions. The <a href="https://www.aamcresearchinstitute.org/our-work/data-snapshot/post-dobbs-2024">new analysis</a> by the AAMC found that the number of applicants to residency programs in states with near-total abortion bans declined by 4.2%, compared with a 0.6% drop in states where abortion remains legal. Find more of our reporting on what this trend means for the medical profession <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/medical-students-residents-spurning-abortion-ban-states/">here</a>. <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast/what-the-health-347-bird-flu-next-public-health-challenge-may-16-2024/"> </a> listen to the full episode <h3> <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast/what-the-health-347-bird-flu-next-public-health-challenge-may-16-2024/"> KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: Bird Flu Lands as the Next Public Health Challenge </a> </h3> Public health authorities are closely watching an unusual strain of bird flu that has infected dairy cows in nine states and at least one dairy worker. Meanwhile, another major health system suffered a cyberattack, and Congress is moving to extend the availability of telehealth services. <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast/what-the-health-347-bird-flu-next-public-health-challenge-may-16-2024/">Listen</a>