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Texan doctor Jennifer Smith (not her real name) is a first-year obstetrics and gynecology resident working at a hospital outside the state. In this interview with COURIER Texas special correspondent Bonnie Fuller, Smith explains why she couldn’t continue her education in Texas—and why she may not be able to return to practice in the state she loves.
“I was born in Houston. I grew up there, and went to medical school there as well. But right now I am in the first year of an OB-GYN residency in Washington, D.C.
I’m 29, but I’ve felt called to be a doctor since I was 5 or 6 years old.
My father is a physician, so I had early exposure to hospitals and to medicine as a way to reduce suffering. I also just loved science.
The reason I stayed in Texas for medical school was largely practical. As a Texas resident, in-state tuition is very affordable.
I chose OB-GYN because I feel strongly about supporting women and amplifying their voices. I’m also fascinated by everything, from the physiology of the reproductive system to my first experiences delivering babies.
From what I’ve heard from medical students around the country, participating in labor and delivery is a core component of training. I love delivering babies. It’s an honor to be present at such a vulnerable moment in someone’s life.
Many people describe it as the best day of their lives, but it’s not always. For some, it’s the scariest.
It’s impossible to stay in Texas and learn full OB-GYN care
I want to be the best OB-GYN I can be. To do that, I had to move to a place without abortion restrictions to get exposure to care that is restricted in Texas. My goal is to bring those skills back home.
During medical school, I had to leave Texas for a month to take a course on the West Coast in complex family planning. Those courses include instruction in abortion care, so I needed to be in a state without restrictions.
I also learned how to counsel patients with complex medical conditions to find the right contraceptive options.
It was critical to my education.
If Texas’ abortion restrictions weren’t in place, I could have learned more of this in-state.
Now, during residency, I’m also learning procedures to evacuate the uterus in cases of complications—for example, when a fetus dies early in pregnancy. In those cases, it can become dangerous if the pregnancy tissue is not expelled quickly.
The skills needed to safely care for those patients are better developed in places without restrictions.
‘Abortion bans harm patients’
There is extensive data showing the consequences of restricting abortion care. Major medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the World Health Organization, say abortion should not be restricted.
We are seeing the health consequences in Texas.
Editor’s Note: At least four women—three of them mothers—have died after delays in care linked to the state’s abortion bans. Three died after miscarriages when treatment was delayed. Another died of a stroke after not being offered an abortion despite severe complications, including high blood pressure, blood clots and diabetes.
At this point in my residency in Washington, my intention is to return to Texas to practice. This is the community that inspired me to become a physician. It’s the community I know and feel best equipped to serve.
Texas has an OB-GYN shortage
I don’t want to leave the state because of abortion laws. Texans deserve high-quality OB-GYN care.
Texas already faces a significant physician shortage, especially in rural areas.
Read More: The Texas OB-GYN Exodus
After residency, I want to help expand care in Houston and travel to underserved areas where patients must drive hours for care.
I went into this profession to fill gaps in women’s reproductive health.
While I intend to return to Texas, I can’t predict what the legal landscape will look like.
My personal safety is a concern.
If the laws become more restrictive, I’ll have to assess that risk.
