Dear UCSF Community,

The U.S. Supreme Court today overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that for nearly 50 years has protected the constitutional right to choose an abortion. We are profoundly disappointed over the devastating impact that this decision will have on people’s control over their own bodies and lives.

This verdict will criminalize abortion in many states, reduce access to reproductive health care, and put lives at risk. As expressed by University of California President Michael Drake, today’s decision stands in stark contrast to our belief that every person has a fundamental right to make their own informed decisions about their health care.

In light of today’s ruling UCSF’s work in reproductive health care has never been more important. We are proud of, and support, the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences’ leadership in these efforts. We remain firmly committed to serving all those who seek our care. We pledge to teach and train the next generation of health care providers, and conduct research that saves and improves lives.

We also will continue to advocate for equitable health care policies, including a focus on underserved communities. This is an unprecedented rollback of a constitutional right that people have relied on for decades, and will make accessing essential, evidence-based care immensely challenging for millions of people. This decision will fall hardest on people who already face structural barriers to care, including Black, Indigenous, and other people of color,...