Complex Family Planning Fellowship

The University of New Mexico’s ACGME Accredited Fellowship in Complex Family Planning aims to develop obstetrician-gynecologist leaders in abortion and contraception through training in clinical care, research, education, and advocacy.  Our program stands out in close personal mentorship and promotes lifelong learning by supporting our Fellows to earn a Master of Public Health during the two-year Complex Family Planning fellowship at UNM.  UNM has a long-standing history of providing reproductive health care for a culturally diverse, underserved, and rural patient population including historically marginalized peoples. Recent state and federal legislative changes have made New Mexico an abortion surge state, as more patients travel to New Mexico to access care. The UNM Fellowship in Complex Family Planning offers incredible clinical, educational, advocacy, and research opportunities.

Highlights of our Fellowship

Our patients and people enliven our state, making New Mexico a unique and beautiful place to live and practice. Fellows work with the OB-GYN department’s committed, diverse, and exceptional residents and medical students as well as across several disciplines.  Furthermore, our Fellows obtain quality mentorship from fellowship-trained, nationally recognized faculty as well as strong departmental support.  

Other highlights of our program include:

• Advocacy opportunities through our Fellow curriculum and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) New Mexico Section and for Fellows accepted into the program, the Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy.
• Clinical, education, and research collaboration among UNM Health Sciences Center faculty.
• Opportunities to teach medical students and residents in UNM's Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Program.
• Professional development as educators through UNM’s Achievement in Medical Education Program (AMEP).
• Partnership with Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains for additional clinical experience.
• Low resource rotation with Indian Health Services.
• Practice in a reproductive rights-friendly state with strong collaborative relationships between our medical and legal communities as well as with our community organizations.
• Reproductive health research opportunities.

Clinical Training 

Fellows receive training in complex abortion and contraception care using evidence-based medical and procedural methods.  Most training occurs at the UNM Center for Reproductive Health, where Fellows teach residents and medical students and are supervised by our Complex Family Planning faculty.  Fellow training also occurs at the Albuquerque Planned Parenthood Health Center. Medically complex abortion training requiring inpatient care takes place at UNM Hospital. UNM's referral area includes all of New Mexico and parts of Arizona, and Colorado, as well as Texas and other states where abortion is not accessible. 

Fellows also perform ambulatory procedures at UNM’s Outpatient Surgery and Imaging Services (OSIS) and become experienced in moderate procedural sedation in the outpatient setting. By maintaining some general clinical practice, Fellows can choose to collect cases for board certification. 

Educational Experience 

Fellows are immersed in diverse collaborative experiences including: 

• Didactic seminars
• Mentorship from the Fellowship Directors
• Joint journal club with Complex Family Planning and Maternal Child Health faculty, fellows, residents, medical students, Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), and CNM students
• Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) meetings
• OB/GYN Grand Rounds
• Annual meetings of the Society of Family Planning and ACOG  

Fellows are expected to gain advanced research training by earning a Master of Public Health during their time as a Fellow. Tuition is covered through UNM’s Tuition Remission program.  The UNM Office of Continuous Professional Learning provides Fellows with professional development opportunities in medical education.  

Research Opportunities 

During the two-year fellowship, CFP Fellows design and carry out a primary research project in Complex Family Planning.  Fellows’ research mentor and the Complex Family Planning research team will facilitate and advocate for CFP research. Fellows are expected to present their findings at national scientific meetings and publish in peer-reviewed journals. Fellows also complete a secondary project acceptable for publication or approved by the Fellowship Directors in an area of their choosing.

Fellows have the opportunity to collaborate with experts including:  

• School of Medicine faculty 
• College of Population Health Faculty 
• Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC) faculty  
• New Mexico Department of Health staff 

Advocacy Involvement

Our fellows have the opportunity to work with Fellowship faculty and residents on a variety of advocacy initiatives including:

• New Mexico legislative session – Fellows can collaborate with ACOG on annual lobby day training and ACOG lobby day with a focus on reproductive health access.
• Assisting residents with advocacy projects.
• Writing op-eds focused on current advocacy issues locally and nationally.
• For Fellows accepted into the program, Building Inclusive Leadership (BIL), a six-month extracurricular program from the Learning Environment Office aimed at developing SOM learners’ understanding of and advocacy for marginalized identities.

•  Participating in advocacy-focused presentations or interviews.

We encourage all residents interested in applying for a fellowship in Complex Family Planning to become members of the Society of Family Planning.

Support CFP Training

Application Process

All candidates apply through ERAS. Applications open in November and will close the following May. Applicants must have completed (or are about to complete) an accredited residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 

The Complex Family Planning Fellowship recognizes the critical need for a diverse clinician workforce that enhances the breadth and depth of our research and reflects the communities in which we work. To that end, we seek to support and raise voices that have been historically marginalized in academic medicine.

A complete application consists of:

• ERAS Common Application
• Medical School Transcripts
• USMLE Transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which are from OB/GYN faculty at your institution. All letters are uploaded into ERAS.
• Personal Statement
  • In your statement, we encourage you to:
    • Detail the role you see our fellowship playing in your career. While not required, you may consider addressing some or all of the following questions in your personal statement:
      • Why do you want to complete a Complex Family Planning Fellowship?
      • What are your short- and long-term career goals?
      • How have your training and mentorship prepared you to enter the subspecialty?
      • What gaps in research, education, clinical care, or leadership are you hoping to fill?
    • Please describe your experience in contraception and abortion.
    • Please describe your research interests and activities.
    • Please indicate if you are a member of the Society of Family Planning.
    • Did you graduate or will you be graduating from a residency program with a Ryan Program?

The UNM Complex Family Planning participates in the NRMP Match.  We invite you to visit the Society of Family Planning’s Fellowship Application Information page to learn more about the Society’s recommended timeline and interview dates. The Fellowship starts August 1 and extends through July 31.