Overview

• For the second consecutive year, fewer U.S. medical school graduates are applying for residencies in states with restrictive abortion laws, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
• The trend is more pronounced in specialties that deal directly with pregnancy, such as obstetrics and gynecology, where applications dropped by 6.7% in states with strict bans.
• Experts warn that the declining number of medical residents in these states could exacerbate existing healthcare provider shortages, particularly in rural areas.
• Some medical students express reluctance to train in states with abortion bans, citing a desire for comprehensive reproductive health training and concerns about personal and professional implications.
• Despite the drop in applications, residency programs in states with abortion bans are still filling positions due to the overall number of medical graduates exceeding available slots.