Medical training becomes less desirable in abortion-restricting states

 Here's a new study of applications to medical residency programs, suggesting that medical training has become less desirable in states with abortion restrictions, especially in abortion-related specialties, including obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, internal medicine, and emergency medicine.

Ganguly AP, Basu A, Morenz AM. State-Level Disparities in Residency Applications After Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(3):e260286. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.0286 

 "In this cross-sectional study with an ITS analysis of 24 193 864 applications to 4315 residency programs for 5 years across all medical specialties, we observed a statistically significant disparity in applications from both women and men in states with abortion restrictions following the Dobbs decision in 2022 compared with states that did not enact restrictions. Despite overall increases in the number of residency applications during the study period, existing disparities between application volume to programs in abortion-restricted and nonrestricted states widened for women applying to residency, and new disparities emerged for men applying to residency post-Dobbs. Stratified analyses suggested that specialty type may influence differences, as effect sizes were increased among abortion-related specialties and decreased among the most competitive specialties.

"These findings affirm and expand on recent studies demonstrating decreased OBGYN residency applications and applicant interest in abortion-restricted states following the Dobbs decision.19 Additional studies have reported challenges faced by OBGYN programs in abortion-restricted states, including nonadherence to accreditation standards requiring abortion training, financial constraints for medical training, and burnout among residents and program leadership."