WORCESTER, Mass. - A recent push from students led UMass Chan Medical School to expand their curriculum and community work surrounding women's reproductive rights.

Abortion is now being added to lectures as part of reproductive health curriculum for first and second-year medical students. The course work includes the epidemiology of unintended pregnancy and abortion, basics of medical and surgical abortions and the legal environment surrounding abortion.

The school's obstetrics and gynecology residency program saw an increase in applications this past year, following the Supreme Court decision which reversed Roe v. Wade.

"I think having that base level of knowledge building upon that in their third and fourth year is essential,” said Dr. Tara Kumaraswami, director, obstetrics and gynecology residency program. “So being able to have that knowledge, just like they learn about so many other things in medical school, they learn about the heart, this is one of the most common procedures that people who could get pregnant have in their lifetime. So for students to not be exposed to that it leaves them with a gap in their knowledge."

"I think that all medical students even those that don’t plan to go into a G.Y.N. should understand the basics of abortion and contraception care,” said Dr. Sophia Landay, a recent graduate from the school. “It’s really important that medical providers have an understanding of what to say to patients."

The changes in curriculum followed a rally led by students last fall and the launch of a petition for bodily autonomy.