Media Center: Press Release

Robert A. Hatcher, MD, MPH, Honored for His Commitment to Protecting Women's Reproductive Health
05/03/2007

“Dr. Hatcher has a wealth of knowledge to pass on to other people, and he literally gives it away for free.”

New York, NY—Robert A. Hatcher, MD, MPH, has devoted more than four decades to teaching women and medical professionals about the importance of contraception. On May 8, in recognition of Dr. Hatcher’s extraordinary commitment to education, research, and advocacy, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH) will present him with the 2007 Kenneth J. Ryan, MD, Physician Leadership Award. Named for one of PRCH’s founding members, this award is given each year to a doctor who exemplifies leadership in the field of reproductive health.

As a professor at Emory University’s School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Hatcher has trained thousands of medical students, doctors and other healthcare professionals to provide contraception to women. Dr. Hatcher’s teaching extends beyond the university through his numerous textbooks, including the internationally renowned Contraceptive Technology. In addition to reference books for medical professionals, Dr. Hatcher has written several books on relationships and sexuality for the general public. In recent years, he created a popular website, managingcontraception.com, that answers questions about birth control from both women and medical professionals.

Carrie Cwiak, MD, MPH, an obstetrician/gynecologist who works with Dr. Hatcher, notes that his goal is to make contraception available and understandable to as many people as possible. “Dr. Hatcher has a wealth of knowledge to pass on to other people, and he literally gives it away for free,” says Dr. Cwiak. “He wants to use his experience to help others. He’ll say, ‘I’ve done this before—let me pass this along to you.’”

PRCH will present Dr. Hatcher with the Kenneth J. Ryan, MD, Physician Leadership Award during a luncheon May 8 at the 55th Annual Clinical Meeting of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in San Diego. A keynote address by leading medical ethicist George Annas will discuss how physician refusals affect obstetric care for women, including access to abortion and contraception.