Panel Session: The Impact of Dobbs on Perinatal Care in New Mexico

Panel:
  • Elinor Rushforth, JD - Reproductive Rights Attorney, ACLU of New Mexico
  • Dr. Lauren Thaxton, MD, MBA, MSBS - Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Complex Contraception, UT Health Austin
  • Dr. Carroll Smita, MD, MBA - CFP fellow, UNMHSC
Session objectives:
  • Understand the key elements of SB-8 and the Dobbs decision
  • Describe provider perspectives on the impact of SB-8/Dobbs on abortion care access in restricted states and haven states
  • Explain the possible impacts of the Dobbs decision on maternal health
  • Describe the impacts of Dobbs on provider training

Moderator: Dr. Eve Espey, MD MPH

Eve Espey, MD MPH is Professor and Chair of the Department of Ob/Gyn and Family Planning fellowship Director at the University of New Mexico. She is past President of the Society of Family Planning and Chair of the ACOG LARC Work Group as well as President Elect of the Council of University Chairs of OB-GYN. Dr. Espey won the Margaret Sanger Award, 50th anniversary of Planned Parenthood of Rocky Mountains 2014 and the Rashbaum Award for Excellence in Family Planning from Physicians for Reproductive Health in 2013. She gave the ACOG Irvin Cushner Memorial lecture in 2014 and 2017 and addressed the United Nations in 2015 on the topic of intimate partner violence in Native American Women. She was instrumental in helping Family Planning achieve ACGME subspecialty status and is a member of the ABOG Family Planning Division. She was recognized for her lifetime’s work in promoting Family Planning by the Fellowship in Family Planning in 2017; she has won a medical student teaching award every year of her 23 years as faculty in the Department of OB-GYN. She has twice won best clinical faculty at UNM, chosen by 4th year medical students. As Immediate Past President of the New Mexico Perinatal Collaborative and Chair of the Department of OB-GYN, Dr. Espey is dedicated to improving access to women’s healthcare in New Mexico. She has led projects in reducing maternal mortality from obstetric hemorrhage and implementing immediate postpartum LARC in hospitals throughout the state. She works with medical students, residents, fellows, midwives, nurse practitioners and pharmacists as a colleague and as an educator. She has numerous publications in contraception, abortion and medical education and has presented locally, regionally and nationally on these topics.