KENNEDY

The Portland Tribune recently asked five questions of Dr. Sara Kennedy, the incoming president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette.

Unlike in a traditional interview, in which answers are truncated for space, in the Tribune’s “5 Questions” format, answers will be posted online in full. All answers are edited. A shorter version of this will appear in the print edition.

1. How has the work of Planned Parenthood changed since Roe v. Wade was overturned? Or has the work changed?

In Oregon and Southwest Washington, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette (PPCW) has seen dramatic surges in demand for our services — particularly abortion services for out-of-state patients.

At PPCW, we treated 500 patients from Idaho in the year following the Dobbs decision. The next year, that number jumped to over 1,000, representing an increase of approximately 50%. Visualizing 1,000 patients traveling from Idaho to our health centers in just one year is sobering. And beyond Idaho, individuals from across the country are seeking care within Oregon and Southwest Washington, as 22 states have imposed restrictive and harmful abortion bans. Previously, abortion care constituted about 6% to 7% of our total visits; now, it exceeds 13% and demand continues to grow.

As a health care provider, I can attest that we are also seeing patients who are medically more complex and who are more stressed. For patients traveling from states that have restricted or banned abortion, often, they must overcome multiple obstacles to get to their appointment. This is combined with the fact that many people did not access care regularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are still seeing the health consequences of delayed/absent care. In addition, health inequities are worsening across the United States. For all these reasons, the patients coming to PPCW over these past several years have more health care needs and are often more medically complex than they were previously.

2. People who think “Planned Parenthood” often think “abortion,” as opposed to other health care services provided by, or advocated for, your agency. Talk a little about the full spectrum of services that fall within Planned Parenthood’s purview.

While we are proud abortion providers, 87% of appointments at PPCW health centers are unrelated to abortion, and include preventative care, birth control, cancer screenings including breast/chest and cervical cancer screening, miscarriage management, UTI testing and treatment, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, menopausal care, basic infertility services and gender-affirming care. Many people do not know that we also treat men’s sexual health concerns, including erectile dysfunction and infections, as well as offering vasectomy.

We are the largest nonprofit provider of sexual and reproductive health care services in Oregon, and we are also one of few statewide health care providers, which puts us in the unique position of being able to serve all Oregonians no matter their ZIP code. In fiscal year 2024, PPCW conducted over 74,000 patient visits across our nine health centers in Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. We are the leading provider of testing and treatment of STIs in Oregon, with over 130,750 STI tests performed last year alone. We are also one of the top providers for breast/chest and cervical cancer screening in Oregon.

In addition to health care, we are the largest provider of sexual education in Oregon. We are dedicated to offering accessible, accurate and non-judgmental information about sexual and reproductive health through our education programs, which reach over 30,000 young people and community members each year. The current threats to reproductive rights come at a time when young people are denied the education they deserve. To make informed decisions about sex and relationships, young people need comprehensive information, essential skills, and access to youth-friendly health care services. PPCW is committed to making access to sex education more equitable and inclusive.

3. Oregon has the fewest restrictions on abortion of any state in the nation, while our neighbor to the east, Idaho, has some of the strictest limitations. Does that dynamic impact the work of the Oregon-based Planned Parenthood organizations? If so, how?

The number of out-of-state patients seeking abortion care has increased significantly, particularly from Idaho. Since the ban took effect in August 2022, we have experienced a 50% rise in abortion services from patients across the country looking for care in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

In March 2023, PPCW opened the Ontario Health Center, located on the Idaho border, to better serve Eastern Oregon and patients who can no longer access essential abortion services in their home state. The demand continues to grow, and we are committed to meeting this need by expanding both in-person and telehealth appointment availability at all our health center locations.

4. Reproductive rights have always been politically divisive, but never more so than in the past few years, following the Dobbs decision, and with the current presidential election. Has this added a level of stress to the various health care providers with whom you interact?

I am an obstetrician and gynecologist, and I can say categorically that I am unable to provide safe pregnancy-related care without being able to also provide abortion. An abortion procedure, and abortion medications, are identical to the procedure and medications used during miscarriage management. These are safe, evidence-based and effective procedures and medications used worldwide. Abortions are lifesaving in the setting of hemorrhage (life-threatening bleeding) or infection, both of which can occur during miscarriage, from chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or physical trauma. So yes, health care providers are extremely stressed when politicians or judges decide they can’t practice full-scope, evidence-based, lifesaving obstetric care.

In addition, health care providers in some states face real and significant civil and criminal charges for providing abortion. Doctors — many of whom went to medical school to save lives and to do good — now must choose between saving a patient’s life or going to jail. I feel for my colleagues working in these banned and restricted states, and I am grateful to Oregon for fighting back and protecting reproductive rights.

5. What is the one thing you wish more Oregonians understood about Planned Parenthood?

We want Oregonians to know that we are here to take care of you, no matter what. We never turn people away, regardless of insurance, immigration status or ability to pay. Seventy percent of our patients are on Medicaid and another 11% are fully uninsured; we are a safety net provider dedicated to caring for our communities and reducing health inequity.

Dr. Sara Kennedy is chief operating officer and chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood Northern California, and soon to be president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette. She is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with specialized training in family planning and clinical research.