Pamela Merritt
Medical Students for Choice
United States
Pamela Merritt is executive director of Medical Students for Choice (MSFC), a global non-profit working in over 34 countries to support future abortion care providers and advocate for reproductive justice globally. Prior to joining MSFC, Pamela co-founded and served as the co-director of Reproaction, a national organization formed to increase access to abortion and advance reproductive justice. In addition to serving on the Leadership Council of Our Bodies Ourselves Today, Pamela is the immediate past chair of the Guttmacher Institute Board of Directors, honorary chair of Reproaction’s Advisory Council, and is a senior advisor to Raven Lab for Reproduction Liberation. A longtime writer and progressive thought leader, Pamela’s personal blog was named one of the world's 50 most powerful blogs by the Guardian. Her political and social justice commentary has been published in the Guardian, Rolling Stone, and Rewire News Group.
About
Me.
What is your story?
What drives your work?
I am deeply committed to the reproductive justice framework, through which I work to ensure everyone has the human right to determine whether to have children, has access to community supports for the families they choose to create, and are able to live in communities free from oppression and violence. I work to center those most impacted by reproductive oppression and amplify their needs and voice through advocacy.
Describe your biggest strength as a leader
I am a strong and clear communicator, a visionary leader, and a strategic organizer. I am living proof that social justice organizing works, and I apply servant leadership skills to ensure my organization and community can thrive.
Describe your biggest challenge as a leader
My biggest challenges are the disconnect between movement orgs wanting the visual of Black women in leadership but remaining unsupportive of the reality of that in practice. I also feel that being based in the midwest makes it harder to break through the power and relationship guarding on the coasts.
About the
Organization
and the Project.
Sector
Not-for-profit
Website
Vision & Mission
Mission:
To support future abortion care providers and advocate for reproductive justice globally.
Our Values:
We believe that all people should have access to health services that allow them to lead safe, healthy lives including all aspects of sexual and reproductive health consistent with their own personal and cultural values. Our work is guided by the following values:
1. All reproductive health choices should be freely accessible to all people.
2. People are the experts on their own bodies and experiences.
3. All people have the right to make their own decisions regarding sexuality, health, and whether and when to have children.
4. Sexual health decisions such as abortion affect people of all identities.
5. All social justice movements intersect and therefore achieving our mission requires working collaboratively to overcome all forms of oppression.
6. All people are entitled to empathy and compassionate medical care without judgment.
7. Providing abortion care is a deeply moral decision. Abortion and contraception are vital aspects of medical care that should be embraced as standard practice and as fundamental to medical education.
Year Founded
1993
No. of Employees
11
Years in the Organization
4 years
Annual Budget (USD)
$152.831
Geographical Area Served
Global. MSFC has chapters in 31 countries, including the USA and Canada.
Organizational /
Project Description
MSFC is embarking on an alumni engagement program. We have 30 years worth of alumni all over the world, with the largest concentration in the US.
Goals:
I would like to explore how best to engage our alumni in fundraising, community outreach, mentorship of current medical students, and advocacy.
Why is this project important and timely?
What is the target population of your project?
Our alumni engagement program will primarily serve MSFC members and residents. The secondary population are policy makers at the local and state level. The third target is other professional organizations within medical education and the field of medicine.
How will you know that you have achieved that impact? What data will you use to assess your impact?
We will track alumni outreach and engagement. We will also track donations, relationship connections, and event. We plan to hold advocacy and media trainings, and will track alumni participation and outcomes.
How do you anticipate this unique leadership education impacting you personally? What new skills are you hoping too develop & grow through this experience?
I hope to grow my network, improve my communication skills, and learn more about professional and financial development for myself and the organizations I'm involved with.
Where would you like to see yourself professionally in the next 3 years?
I see myself established in leadership at a recognized reproductive rights or justice organization where I am supported in efforts to lock in stable and diverse funding, retain talented staff, and drive an ambitious vision toward the goal of liberating reproductive health policy from the legislative process.