Outreach, Research, and Education

CHOICES Is Everywhere!

Its involvement with patients is high and widespread, going way far beyond the delivery of the highest level of health care into the minds, hearts, and lives of its patients and the community it serves. As an organization it is committed to treatment, research, educational outreach, and bridging societal and cultural gaps through compassionate, concerned, and informed health care.

Studies

TelAbortion

Choices Women’s Medical Center has recently participated in a research study that ended in May 2017: the TelAbortion Study. The purpose of the study was to evaluate a service through which women can obtain medical abortion pills by mail without coming in person to the clinic and is evaluated via videoconference. The patient obtained an ultrasound and other tests, at facilities near her home, before and after the procedure. The study used the same medication that is used for all medical abortions (medication abortion) at CHOICES.

The purpose of the study was to improve access to abortion services for women who may find it challenging to come to clinics, due to distance, the costs of travel, the need for childcare, lost wages, or for other reasons.

Dilapan

Committed to being at the forefront of women’s health care, Choices Women’s Medical Center has participated in national and international research studies throughout its 45-year history. At this time, we are involved in an international study (in conjunction with the Czech Republic, India, and Spain) on the use of Dilapan, Dilapan-S/Dilasoft osmotic dilators, which are products used to prepare the cervix prior to surgical abortion. Professor Janesh Gupta of the University of Birmingham, UK is directing this study in the US, which is oriented toward analyzing the number of hours required for sufficient dilation by the Dilapan product available in the US.

Abortionomics

Conducted by independent researcher Robin H. Pugh Yi, Ph.D., president of Akeso Consulting in Vienna, Virginia, the study is called Abortionomics: When Choice Is a Necessity, The Impact of Recession on Abortion. The analysis was commissioned by Merle Hoffman, founder, and president of Choices Women’s Medical Center, after hearing anecdotal information from abortion patients that today’s economic hardships were a large factor in women’s decisions to have abortions. The findings were presented by Hoffman and Pugh Yi at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. on Jan. 17, 2011.

Outreach and Educational Research

Educating the public about women’s health has always been integral to the mission of Choices Women’s Medical Center. From community centers to health fairs, high schools and colleges, embassies, and human services organizations, CHOICES provides accurate and up-to-date information on a variety of topics and advocacy to underserved communities throughout the five boroughs of New York, Nassau, and Suffolk. Our team of Outreach Specialists offers accurate, honest, and relevant support services information each time they visit communities. CHOICES is known for its accurate, interactive, and non-judgmental health and sex/sexuality-related workshops.

If you are interested in hosting any of these CHOICES’ Workshops, please contact our Outreach and Education Team by calling 718-349-9100 ext.119 or emailing [email protected] for more information.

Feedback from Health Educator located in Elmhurst, Queens:

“Kelly and her team from Choices Women’s Medical Center are an asset to our school community. I’ve scheduled presentations for Birth Control, Healthy Relationships, and STIs every semester for the past 4 years. My students truly enjoy Kelly’s visits and the information she presents is invaluable to my student’s health and lives. A number of my students have taken advantage of the services at Choices Women’s Medical Center because of their professionalism, convenient location, and free services. In addition, these presentations do a great job at supplementing NYC health curriculum for 9-12 grades.”

Workshops

Birth Control Workshop: What Kinds of Birth Control Are Available and How to Use Them

Will my birth control cause me to gain weight? What is the difference between a male and female condom? What happens if I forget to take one of my birth control pills? What types of long-term birth control are available to me? Each birth control workshop answers these questions and more. Choosing the best birth control is a very personal decision. Every person is different, with different preferences and needs. Our teams of specialists describe in detail the most current birth control options available, with honesty, accuracy and openness. This workshop gives participants useful information about birth control effectiveness, the pros and cons of each type, and helps them decide what method might be right for them. It clears up confusion, misinformation and misconceptions about birth control.

Sexually Trasmitted Infections (STI's) Workshop: What They Are, How to Recognize and Treat Them and Practice Safer Sex

The CHOICES STI workshop gives detailed information about the most common sexually transmitted infections, how they spread, the importance of testing and prevention. It gives detailed information about safer sex practices that prevent the spread of STIs.

Healthy Relationships Workshop: What Makes A Relationship Healthy and How to Keep it That Way

Are you happy in your relationship? Does your partner treat you as an equal and respect you? Does your partner act jealous and get mad if you want to spend time with others? Relationships can but do not have to be sexual, but they should make you feel comfortable, secure and respected. In this workshop, CHOICES' Outreach specialists help you explore what makes a relationship healthy, the signs of an unhealthy relationship, and suggest where to go to get help if you or someone you know is experiencing partner abuse or violence within an intimate relationship. Everyone deserves to be in a relationship that is based upon mutual respect, on trust, on honesty, that is supportive and uplifting, that makes you happy, secure and feel safe. This workshop saves lives.

Pregnancy Options Workshop: Abortion, Prenatal Care, Adoption, and Choices' Advocacy for Women's Reproductive Health

CHOICES Outreach reviews the various pregnancy options available at CHOICES – including abortion, adoption coordination, and our Prenatal Program that includes access to midwife services. We discuss the history of reproductive healthcare and how CHOICES has advocated on behalf of women for over 45 years.

“Sex Never Gets Old” Workshop: Healthy Sex, STI Prevention and Treatment for All Ages

Recent studies have revealed a national trend among seniors of more active sex lives and, at the same time, an increase in the number of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections and diseases among those aged 55 and older. Education is the key to slowing the spread of STIs in the senior community. Infections are climbing at an alarming rate, and this CHOICES’ workshop informs and educates seniors about testing, prevention and treatments. It explains in honest and easy to understand terms that safe sex is vitally important, no matter your age. Each workshop includes Q&A, and is comprehensive, lively, full of humor, refreshingly – and sometimes brutally – honest, and often quite poignant. Choices Women’s Medical Center has launched this new workshop because there is a real need to get no-nonsense sex education to our senior population.

Internships

Choices Women’s Medical Center believes that a hands-on experience in a gold standard healthcare environment is the best way to develop healthcare professionals for the future. CHOICES has participated in numerous internship programs since 1971 when it first opened its doors. It offers interns a unique opportunity to learn in a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgical facility, training on top-of-the-line equipment and working shoulder to shoulder with some of the finest health care professionals in the industry. Since 2011 the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) has awarded Choices Women’s Medical Center its highest level of accreditation. This distinguishes CHOICES from many other outpatient surgical facilities by ensuring both a safe work environment and the highest quality of care to its patients. If you are an educational organization, school, or other intern placement source and are interested in placing interns at CHOICES, please call 718-349-9100 ext 119 or email [email protected].

CHOICES offers interns a unique opportunity to learn in a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgical facility, working shoulder to shoulder with some of the most experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate women’s health care professionals in the field.

Domestic Internships

Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI)

Since 2005, BALI has mentored and trained young women of middle, high school and college-age, developing confidence and the critical skills needed to become effective, dynamic, and visionary 21st-century leaders. Annually, CHOICES outreach team provides educational workshops to the summer program attendees.

Columbia University

For the past several years CHOICES has been participating in Columbia University’s Internship program, hosting their amazing students and graduates in CHOICES Gynecology, Surgical, Prenatal and other departments.

The Columbia University Internship Program is coordinated by the University’s Center for Career Education. It helps students and alumni develop key competencies necessary to make informed decisions and take the necessary steps to achieve their career goals. The Center establishes connections and facilitates interaction among undergraduate students, graduate students, alumni, employers, and organizations to generate opportunities that help students pursue their personal and professional objectives.

Duke University

The Moxie Project is a civic engagement experience sponsored by DukeEngage that fosters social justice leadership in a select group of Duke undergraduates. The program provides students with an opportunity to observe and practice social change within a partner organization dedicated to supporting women and girls in the New York City area; partners include the National Domestic Worker’s Alliance, Legal Momentum, Girls for Gender Equity, and, this year, CHOICES. Eight undergraduates will work 35 hours a week with partner organizations to learn about and work for reproductive rights, immigration issues, labor rights, violence against women policy initiatives and much more. Through an intensive eight-weeks of academic seminars, professional development and applied learning experiences against the backdrop of New York’s rich activist past and present, students will understand how their leadership efforts fit into a long history of women’s activism and emerge with confidence to become a part of that history. Follow their journey through the Moxie Blog. This year’s cohort will start their journey in early June.

Jamaica Hospital

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarship and teaching, and delivering excellent and compassionate medical care to all they serve. These goals are reflected in every aspect of the training experience offered to trainees.

Because training is central to their mission, every effort is made to provide hands-on clinical experience, as well as didactic teaching. They encourage and support scholarly activity, including research and opportunities which are an integral part of teaching programs.

Jamaica Hospital’s various Graduate Medical Education programs provide Residents with many opportunities to showcase their educational research projects including rotations at Choices Women’s Medical Center. To learn more visit www.jamaicahospital.org.

Int'l Internships

American Medical Opportunities Worldwide Intern Program (AMO)

(AMO) places international students and graduates in 4-week clinical experiences such as clerkships, electives, externships and observerships. AMO understands the goals and aspirations of its interns and uses those goals as the basis of each placement. Hosting international visitors allows organizations to pass on their skills and knowledge to a new generation of health care professionals. AMO’s value lies in the painstaking process they use to match an organization’s requirements and protocols with each of their applicants. To find out more information please visit www.amoworldwide.org.

Medical Students for Choice

Founded by medical students in 1993 as a response to the almost complete deficit of abortion education in their medical training, Medical Students for Choice (a 501©3 non-profit) has filled a unique niche in the abortion rights movement. They work to ensure that medical students and trainees are educated about all aspects of reproductive health care, including abortion.

Currently, MSFC has more than 220 chapters around the world. With abortion training still lacking in medical school curricula, MSFC members organize to change institutional policies and broaden opportunities for all their fellow students to receive family planning education.

Medical Students for Choice supports any medical student or physician in training seeking abortion and family planning education. For more information please visit msfc.org

Queens College

The Internship Program at Queens College helps to integrate classroom learning with work experience. Its Office of Career Development & Internships facilitates student placement, follow-ups, and the final evaluation process, and develops and maintains a database of internship requirements and terms in a variety of fields to facilitate positive internship experiences. Some Queens College internships are credit-bearing courses that teach students how to transition from the school world to the work world, while others can be paid, stipend, or unpaid.

York College

York College’s Community Health Education Program and Choices Women’s Medical Center have collaborated to provide interns extensive supervised field experience within CHOICES Outreach, Education, and Marketing Department.

The Community Health Education program at York College is designed to prepare the student to be a specialist skilled in planning and implementing programs that enhance health awareness. This multidisciplinary program facilitates the involvement of individuals, communities, and community-based organizations to promote well-being, improved health status and positive health behaviors.

The Community Health Education program’s goal – to prepare health education specialists – is implemented through the program’s curriculum and internship experiences which reflect the standards of the American Association of Health Education (AAHE) and National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC). These standards and competencies address content, assessment needs, planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs, educational strategies, being a resource person, and communication and advocacy.

Outreach, Research, and Education

Studies

Outreach and Educational Research

Workshops

Internships

Domestic Internships

Int'l Internships

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