On April 7th, 2025, a critical research paper was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) by authors from the WHRI affiliated Contraception and Abortion Research Team (CART). This study, titled “Changes in local access to mifepristone dispensed by community pharmacies for medication abortion in Ontario: a population-based repeated cross-sectional cohort study.” 

The research demonstrates how availability of mifepristone is making abortion more accessible. Specifically, although only 37% of abortion service users lived in an Ontario region with either a mifepristone-dispensing pharmacy or procedural provider in 2017, this increased to 91% by 2022.

The paper’s significance was underscored by its selection as an Editor’s Pick in CMAJ. The research was also featured on the CMAJ Podcast, where Dr. Schummers discusses the importance of mifepristone in advancing sexual and reproductive health. 

Early in Career Award 

On April 24, 2025, Dr. Schummers received the Early in Career Award from the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia. This distinguished award recognized Dr. Schummers’ outstanding contributions to research that extends beyond academia and benefits public health policy.

Learn more about the Early in Career Award and Dr. Schummers’ work down below.