What is a Ryan Program?
The Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Training Program (Ryan Program) is a national initiative to help implement the ACGME mandate and institutionalize family planning training as an important part of medical education. The Ryan Program provides support for ob-gyn residency programs to create or expand rotations in contraception and abortion in the teaching hospital, and build training collaborations with abortion clinics in the community. Attending a residency that offers a Ryan Program model of training helps to ensure that family planning training will be an integral part of your education. The majority of academic teaching hospitals offer Ryan Programs – click HERE to access the list of Ryan Programs.
What can I expect at a Ryan Program?
- A formal, opt-out clinical curriculum in abortion and contraception.
- Comprehensive training in outpatient, first-trimester aspiration and medication abortion, with the opportunity to learn D&E procedures.
- Exposure to contraceptive needs of patients with complex medical conditions.
- Learning about pregnancy options and abortion counseling, first- and second-trimester ultrasound, and pain management during uterine aspiration.
- Implementation of evidence-based practices and technologies.
Ryan Programs in restrictive states
On June 24th, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that revoked Americans’ constitutional right to abortion. The Dobbs decision overturned the federal protection of reproductive rights established by Roe v. Wade nearly 50 years ago – causing half of U.S. states to severely restrict or ban abortion outright.
As residency programs adapt to new state laws, residents’ experiences of abortion training in restrictive states will vary widely. We continue to expect all Ryan Programs in restrictive states will meet our core training expectations and the ACGME Program Requirement IV.C.7. to provide residents with out-of-state abortion training with support for this experience provided by the program.
Brochures and guides