MARCH Program Begins Next Phase of Abortion and Reproductive Health Workforce Training Across Maryland
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) has received a new $16.3 million five-year award from the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to expand the Maryland Abortion and Reproductive Clinical Health (MARCH) Program, an innovative interdisciplinary initiative that prepares health care professionals to provide evidence-based abortion and reproductive health care and education throughout Maryland.
The award launches MARCH 2.0, the next evolution of the program, expanding clinical education, strengthening regional partnerships, and increasing access to abortion care, particularly in rural and underserved communities where workforce shortages continue to create barriers to care. Building on the success of the original program, MARCH 2.0 will deepen collaborations with health systems, community organizations, and academic partners such as state area health education centers (AHECs) while creating a sustainable statewide model for reproductive health workforce development.
"At the University of Maryland, Baltimore, we believe the most effective solutions to complex health challenges are built through collaboration," said Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, president of UMB. "MARCH exemplifies how our schools can work together to prepare physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, midwives, pharmacists, and other health professionals to serve Maryland's communities. By strengthening the health care workforce and expanding access to care where it is needed most, programs like MARCH fulfill our public mission and improve the health of our state."
Jessica K. Lee, MD, MPH (left), and Mary Jo Bondy, DHEd, MHS, PA-C, co-principal investigators of the MARCH Program.
Led by Jessica K. Lee, MD, MPH, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Mary Jo Bondy, DHEd, MHS, PA-C, of the School of Graduate Studies, MARCH brings together faculty from the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Graduate Studies, and Pharmacy to provide interdisciplinary education through simulation, clinical placements, online learning, and community partnerships. The program reflects UMB's unique ability to unite multiple health professions around a common goal: improving patient care through collaborative practice.
An Innovative Model That Meets Clinicians Where They Are
Since its launch in 2023, the MARCH program challenged the traditional model of continuing clinical education by bringing abortion training directly to health care professionals rather than expecting them to travel to a single academic center. MARCH faculty traveled across the state to provide training, including use of an ADA-compliant Wellmobile training unit equipped with a gynecology exam room, simulation experiences, and community-based clinical placements . Through partnerships with 10 of Maryland's independent abortion clinics, MARCH created a flexible training network that expanded clinical training opportunities.
That innovative approach enabled the program to train more than 100 health care professionals, including physicians, physician assistants/associates, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, pharmacists, residents, and students, and exceeded its original goals. Graduates now practice in 11 of Maryland's 18 rural counties, helping expand access to contraception and abortion services throughout Maryland. The program also established Maryland's first statewide clinical abortion training network dedicated to reproductive health and abortion education while developing ongoing mentorship and continuing education opportunities for graduates.
Building the Next Generation of Regional Partnerships
Rather than focusing solely on training individual clinicians, the UMB MARCH program's next phase will help communities build lasting clinical capacity by expanding regional partnerships and strengthening local health care systems. Guided by the Maryland Rural Health Strategic Plan, MARCH will begin by deepening partnerships on Maryland's Eastern Shore and then continue expanding into other rural and underserved regions where access gaps remain greatest.
Working with hospitals, primary care practices, emergency departments, student health centers, pharmacies, AHECs, and community organizations, MARCH will deliver training tailored to designated regions designed to help health care teams establish sustainable clinical workflows, referral systems, and evidence-based practices that improve patient access to care.
"MARCH 1.0 demonstrated that when we bring education to clinicians—rather than expecting clinicians to come to us—we can dramatically expand access to training and strengthen Maryland's abortion care workforce," said Jessica K. Lee, MD, MPH, co-principal investigator of the MARCH Program. "With MARCH 2.0, we're building on that success by creating stronger regional partnerships and sustainable training networks that will help ensure patients can receive high-quality, compassionate reproductive health care closer to home."
Each year, MARCH 2.0 will train at least 40 interdisciplinary participants, including physicians, advanced practice clinicians, pharmacists, students, and residents. Educational experiences will continue to emphasize team-based care, evidence-based practice, simulation, mentorship, trauma-informed care, and health equity while expanding opportunities for learners across a broader range of clinical settings.
Expanding the Role of Pharmacy
One of the most significant additions to MARCH 2.0 is a major expansion of pharmacy education and engagement.
Recognizing that pharmacists are among the most accessible health care professionals in many communities, the program will conduct a statewide needs assessment, develop continuing education programs for practicing pharmacists, and create new experiential learning opportunities for pharmacy students. The initiative will strengthen pharmacists' knowledge of abortion care, counseling, and referral pathways while increasing interdisciplinary collaboration among pharmacists, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other clinicians.
"MARCH 2.0 is about more than expanding a training program—it's about building a statewide network of partners committed to improving access to care," said Mary Jo Bondy, DHEd, MHS, PA-C, co-principal investigator of the program. "By working alongside health systems, community organizations, academic institutions, and clinical partners, we're helping communities develop the local expertise and sustainable infrastructure needed to improve reproductive health care throughout Maryland."
Additional initiatives planned under MARCH 2.0 include expanded fellowships for practicing clinicians, enhanced simulation experiences, quarterly training cohorts, additional student and resident rotations, continued use of the Wellmobile training unit, Project ECHO continuing education, new standardized patient scenarios, and support for health care organizations seeking to integrate abortion and reproductive health services into existing clinical practice.
As Maryland's public health, law, and human services university, UMB is uniquely positioned to bring together experts from multiple disciplines to address the state's most pressing health care challenges. Through MARCH 2.0, UMB will continue advancing its mission to improve the human condition by strengthening Maryland's health care workforce, fostering regional collaboration, and expanding access to high-quality care for communities across the state.
