Student Presenter(s): Jessica Byron, Melba Avalos, Amy Xiao
Faculty Mentor: Joerg Leheste
Department: Biomedical Sciences
School/College: College of Osteopathic Medicine, Jonesboro

For nearly five decades, the right to abortion care has been protected by the Supreme Court in through its decision in Roe v. Wade. This could all change as the court considers Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. How could a decision that overturns the precedent for nationwide access to abortion affect women, children, and physicians? How will geography and state laws impact healthcare equality in regard to reproductive rights? How will geography affect who can access care financially, and how will this influence the conditions that children are born into? We have analyzed the impact of these decisions informed by scientific and medical evidence and also considered the conflicting moral viewpoints surrounding the polarizing topic of abortion. We are concluding with policy recommendations at the federal level that would award women and their physician's protection from state laws criminalizing reproductive choices.