It is with heavy hearts that we write to share news that the RHEDI organization will be closing at the end of October 2024, due to insufficient funding following the discontinuation of our primary funding source. Thankfully, we have been able to find new homes for some of our key initiatives.

Since its founding in 2004 under the visionary leadership of Dr. Marji Gold, RHEDI has developed and certified 36 abortion training programs in family medicine residencies across the US. These programs include routine instruction in abortion and contraception care informed by Reproductive Justice (RJ) principles. (This includes the newest RHEDI program at Duke University, which was certified this summer!)

Over the past 20 years,  RHEDI has conducted ground-breaking research on abortion training and provision in family medicine, in demedicalized and telemedicine contexts, and among physicians underrepresented in medicine. We have also developed interactive, patient-centered curricular resources with a special emphasis on medical racism and longstanding patterns of reproductive injustice. Importantly, we launched the Resident Scholars Program for Workforce Diversity, to provide vital mentorship, community and support to residents underrepresented in sexual and reproductive health (SRH).

One of our greatest privileges as an organization has been collaborating with partner organizations, colleagues, residents, and students from across SRH and RJ communities. We have been honored to partner on numerous initiatives with RHAP, TEACH, SFP, SisterSong, We Testify, RAD, Gynuity, MSFC, LMSA, MAP, Ryan, NAF, STFM, and others. We have helped support innovative projects designed by family medicine fellows in the Fellowship in Family Planning and with resident trainees in our away rotation in Kansas. In partnership with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, we have trained hundreds of clinicians and educators in our Abortion Access Ally workshops. And we have been inspired by hosting papaya and values clarification workshops with medical students across the country, many of whom applied exclusively to RHEDI programs. We remain grateful to all of you for your collaboration and for your brilliant contributions to this work!

We believe that abortion training and provision in family medicine is more important than ever, and remains critical to addressing the abortion access crisis that has intensified since the Dobbs decision. As such, we are happy to report that several aspects of our work will live beyond the RHEDI organization. Under the leadership of their site directors, the 36 RHEDI-certified family medicine abortion training programs will continue their work educating the next generation of family medicine abortion providers. In addition, we are deeply grateful that the RHEDI program list, site certification process, and Abortion Training Roadmap will all have a new home at TEACH. We are equally grateful that RHAP will take over administration of the Access Listserv. And we are in discussion with these and other mission-aligned partners to find a home for our other programs and curricular resources.

In the meantime (for the next 6–12 months), the RHEDI website and resources will remain active and available for your use. Although the RHEDI staff are ending their tenure, you will still be able to address queries to info@rhedi.org and someone will get back to you. Although this is a sad day for RHEDI, we look forward to our future collaborations to advance sexual and reproductive health and justice.

In solidarity,

Erica, Diana, Casandra, Ian, Aleza, and Susan

P.S. If you would like to have some RHEDI memorabilia, our art fundraiser commemorating our 20th anniversary is still ongoing. All proceeds will be directed towards aiding the transition of our initiatives to new homes. Thank you!