Interview with Mollie Manley

CHOICES Physician Intern

“Anyone who wants to learn
to care for women should come here.”
  
The following interview is with Mollie Manley, a 4th year medical student who interned with Choices Women’s Medical Center last Fall.  We hope her words will encourage more students to think deeply about the importance of women’s reproductive health and consider interning at CHOICES.  

Mollie, you are a Doctor of Medicine Candidate at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, The Medical School for International Health in Be’er Sheva, Israel.  You have also studied in Canada and have conducted research and published peer-reviewed articles. Given this experience, why did you select CHOICES for an internship and how did you find us?

Mollie: I learned about CHOICES and its program through Medical Students for Choice, which lists CHOICES as an internship option.  I’m originally from Toronto, but there were no such possibilities there, so I reached out to CHOICES.

I want to specialize in OB-GYN care, and, especially in today’s climate, I want to get this exposure and experience.  I didn’t see many opportunities to work with abortion care providers, and CHOICES’ model is unique. It offers full service OBGYN care in one part of the building and ambulatory outpatient surgery in another. Over four weeks I was able to experience many services, medical and surgical abortion along with basic gynecology and obstetrical care.

Is there anything in particular that stands out about your internship here?

Mollie – I think the most memorable part of my experience has been the high volume every day of patient care and the high quality of that care, in abortion and all OB-GYN services. The patients are always at the center of the work here, and everyone on the staff supports them. The degree of empathy here is remarkable. Having full-time social workers who are extremely committed is one example.  

We had one 16-year-old patient come in for a 20-week abortion.  I thought back to myself at 16 – I didn’t know much about my body or about medical care.  But the doctors talked her through everything – and checked up on her the next day.  Now she wants to be a doctor! I was amazed at what the clinic gave her to make her feel that way. The patient had her younger sister with her and no adult. A CHOICES social worker came in, held her hand and made sure she had a safe way to get home. Having that kind of on-site support makes CHOICES unique.

Is there anything that surprised you in your time here?

Mollie – I think that many people have preconceived ideas about who gets abortions. For instance, there are lots of older patients. Many have children already.  I remember a 41-year-old who was pregnant for the first time. She was over 20 weeks when she found out her pregnancy was in big trouble. She needed an abortion, and she couldn’t get care where she lived, so she came to CHOICES. So many factors go into people’s decisions. During this internship I learned a lot about what people get abortions and it’s every kind.  As long as you have an open mind, you can work with others of different views – and most important, give patients the medical care they need.  All that can challenge preconceived notions

What would you say to other students who are looking for internships?

Mollie – Anyone who wants to learn to care for women should come here.  It’s easy to post things on social media about healthcare – but hands-on experience is always different. I hope medical students can continue doing this at CHOICES in the future. Having this experience has enabled me not only to give valuable women’s health care, but to teach others as well.

Interviewer: Mary Lou Greenberg