Rebecca Gomperts, MD

WCPAG Talk Objectives:

1. Highlight Recent Research Findings: To present and discuss the latest scientific evidence on the diverse health benefits of Mifepristone, including its established role in safe abortion care and emerging applications in other medical contexts.

2. Explore Expanded Medical Applications: To examine Mifepristone’s potential as a weekly contraceptive, as well as its therapeutic benefits for conditions such as myopia and endometriosis, emphasizing its versatility in reproductive and general health.

3. Promote Awareness and Access: To advocate for increased awareness of Mifepristone’s multifaceted benefits and discuss strategies to improve access to this medication through initiatives like AID Access, addressing barriers to reproductive healthcare

Rebecca Gomperts, MD, MPP, PhD, is a  physician and advocate who studied medicine and visual arts in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In 2011, she completed a Master’s in Public Policy from Princeton University, followed by a PhD at Karolinska Institutet in 2014.

In 1999, Dr. Gomperts founded Women on Waves, a pioneering Dutch non-profit that uses innovative tools and strategies—such as abortion ships, drones, robots, apps, and hotlines—to challenge restrictive abortion laws, break taboos, and raise awareness about the availability of abortion pills. In 2005, she also established Women on Web, the first telemedical abortion service. Scientific studies on the outcomes of telemedical abortions provided by Women on Web have confirmed that they are as safe and effective as clinical abortions. In 2018, Dr. Gomperts launched Aid Access, a telemedical service that offers abortion care to women in the United States, which has since become a leading provider of abortion services in the country.

Over the past decade, Dr. Gomperts has focused on advocating for the use of mifepristone 50 mg as a weekly, on-demand contraceptive. Current research is underway to assess its efficacy, acceptability, and safety.

Dr. Gomperts has received numerous awards and recognition for her groundbreaking work. She was named a Global Thinker by Foreign Policy in 2015 and included in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list in 2020.