The Reproductive Health Access Project, Inc. (RHAP) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to integrate

abortion Abortion is the early termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. Abortions that occur without intervention are known as miscarriages or "spontaneous abortions", and occur in roughly 30–40% of all pregnan ...

contraception Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth control only be ...

, and

miscarriage Miscarriage, also known in medical terms as a spontaneous abortion, is an end to pregnancy resulting in the loss and expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the womb before it can fetal viability, survive independently. Miscarriage before 6 weeks ...

care into mainstream medicine. It is well known for it
network
that organizes over 3,500 primary clinicians into local groups called "clusters" which work to include

reproductive health Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a field of research, health care, and social activism that explores the health of an individual's Human reproductive system, reproductive system and sexual well-being during all stages of their life. Se ...

care in

primary care Primary care is a model of health care that supports first-contact, accessible, continuous, comprehensive, and coordinated person-focused care. It aims to optimise population health and reduce disparities across the groups by ensuring equitable ...

practice, and for it
fellowship
an
hands-on clinical training programs

Activities

The organization has garnered press coverage for its

papaya The papaya (, ), papaw, () or pawpaw () is the plant species ''Carica papaya'', one of the 21 accepted species in the genus '' Carica'' of the family Caricaceae, and also the name of its fruit. It was first domesticated in Mesoamerica, within ...

workshops, where a papaya (resembling a

uterus The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', : uteri or uteruses) or womb () is the hollow organ, organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans, that accommodates the embryonic development, embryonic and prenatal development, f ...

) is instrumented with a manual vacuum aspirator, a syringe-like device commonly used in abortion procedures. The organization was the subject of a
NPR story
after it led a petition campaign to ensure that contraception and abortion remain part of the core curriculum in

family medicine Family medicine is a medical specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, genders, diseases, and parts of the body. The specialist, who is usually a primary care physician, is ...

training. RHAP'
resources
and materials on contraception, abortion and miscarriage have been translated into several languages. The organization also publishes in academic journals such as ''

Contraception Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth control only be ...

'' and ''

American Family Physician ''American Family Physician'' (''AFP'') is the editorially independent, peer-reviewed and evidence-based medical journal published by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Published continuously since 1950, each issue delivers concise, easy ...

''.

History

RHAP was founded in 2005 by Linda Prine, Lisa Maldonado and Ruth Lesnewski. Linda Prine is a practicing family physician affiliated with

Mount Sinai Mount Sinai, also known as Jabal Musa (), is a mountain on the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. It is one of several locations claimed to be the Mount Sinai (Bible), biblical Mount Sinai, the place where, according to the sacred scriptures of the thre ...

in New York, and is certified by the

American Board of Family Medicine The American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) is a non-profit, independent medical association of American physicians who practice in family medicine and its sub-specialties. Founded in February 1969 as the American Board of Family Practice (ABFP) ...

; she is RHAP's medical director. Lisa Maldonado is currently RHAP's executive director and previously worked with

family planning Family planning is the consideration of the number of children a person wishes to have, including the choice to have no children, and the age at which they wish to have them. Things that may play a role on family planning decisions include marit ...

programs in Latin America, Africa, and New York City. Ruth Lesnewski is currently an

attending physician In the United States and Canada, an attending physician (also known as a staff physician or supervising physician) is a physician (usually an M.D., or D.O. in the United States) who has completed residency and practices medicine in a clinic ...

at the Mount Sinai Downtown Family Medicine Residency Program in Urban Family Practice; she is also RHAP's educational director.{{Cite web, url=https://www.mountsinai.org/profiles/ruth-f-lesnewski, title=Ruth Lesnewski {{! Mount Sinai - New York, website=Mount Sinai Health System, language=en-US, access-date=2019-11-11

References

501(c)(3) organizations Non-profit organizations based in New York City