A Gynecologist Considers Women’s Reproductive Rights, Choice, and Reproductive Justice

In this session, Dr. Hillard will describe her journey to becoming an obstetrician/gynecologist. In the late 1960s and early 70s, she was motivated by the political themes of feminism and reproductive choice. She has been an activist for women’s reproductive rights within the community of physicians, and notes she is still learning how to be an activist in a broader community. She has been motivated by the truths she hears from her patients, including issues of violence against intimate partners, reproductive coercion, concerns of lesbian, bisexual, and trans women, which are all compounded by inequalities in our healthcare system. She reports that she continues to learn about reproductive justice for women of color. She has been an advocate for girls and young women in her teaching of pediatric and adolescent gynecology. While her focus and practice have been among women in the US, all of these issues are magnified for women around the world, particularly poor women. In her work as a faculty member at the Stanford University School of Medicine, she teaches students to trust women. She invites you to explore some of these issues with her, bringing your questions, interests, and passions, to consider what we can do to change the world for our daughters, sons and for our grandchildren.

Paula Hillard is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine, where she teaches, practices clinical medicine, writes, edits, does clinical research, mentors, attends committee meetings, and professes. In additional to being a specialist in women’s health, she subspecializes in pediatric and adolescent gynecology. She is active as a consultant to a number of professional and governmental agencies, including the CDC, FDA, and NIH. She is the author of two textbooks, as well as multiple articles, chapters, and other writing for lay and professional audiences.

Contact:           Judy Lookabill (judy_l@uucpa.org)

Presenter:       Paula Hillard, MD

Registration:   Not required

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