article written for newsletter in Sept. 2002
About the Renton Clinic
In 1991, FWHC purchased the
Cedar River Clinic in Renton when Dr. Baird Bardarson retired. Dr. Bardarson,
a pioneer in the pro-choice movement, was one of the first doctors to provide
abortion when it became legal in Washington in 1970.
(Interestingly, Renton
was home to well-known activist, Dr. Franz Koomey who was the plaintiff in several
cases challenging the State's anti-abortion laws. Dr. Koomey also taught Lorraine
Rothman and Carol Downer about abortion procedures.)
Upon purchasing Cedar River Clinic (CRC),
Diane H., who worked previously at Everett, came back as the organization's
Associate Director to lead our new Renton clinic.
FWHC's larger size provided
resources for more activism, education, lobbying in Olympia, and more Women
in Need Funded services. CRC became a training and research site for
physicians from the University of Washington. Selected students from local technical
colleges came for externships. We worked with interpreter services to train appropriate
translators for our many non-English speaking clients. In partnership with
the UW, we conducted clinical studies evaluating two chemotherapy agents for medical
(non-surgical) abortion. Methotrexate (MTX) abortion proved quite satisfactory
in our studies. We are proud to have participated in its development giving women
more choices. Another goal for CRC, as well as our other clinics, is to
provide jobs and job-training for women to expand their opportunities and give
them experience working in pro-choice feminist health care. Vasilica (Vali)
is an excellent example. A few years ago, she and her family moved here from Romania
where she had been a teacher. While working in housekeeping at a local motel and
raising three children, Vali earned a medical assistant degree. Even then finding
a job proved difficult due to the language barrier. "It's kind of strange
for me here because where I come from abortion is really free. The same doctors
who do abortions also deliver babies, in the same hospitals. Here it is not free.
People are afraid to say they went to, or work at, an abortion clinic. There is
nothing wrong with abortion. I believe in woman's choice." Vali feels
working at CRC has changed her. "It's my dream come true to be a medical
assistant and be able to help many women." We are proud of former employees
who have gone on in hew careers, inside or outside the field of medicine, taking
with them leadership abilities, technical skills, and political awareness developed
while here. Expansion in Renton
By
1998, Cedar River Clinic had increased from an initial staff of 10 in 1991 to
more than 25 employees. We had completely outgrown our space and decided to renovate,
taking over the first floor in our building. In response to client requests, we
added a surgical suite for deep sedation. For six long months, while
construction was done around us, the clinic remained open serving women. The result
is a beautifully updated facility, serving more women with a wider range of services.
Looking back at the changes, Diane H. remarked, "One of the most
rewarding things has been to work with so many extremely talented staff members
and doctors. They contribute so much of themselves, their energy, skills and knowledge.
They embody a core FWHC value of woman-centered health care."
Looking
ahead, Clinic Manager Sharon is excited by the recent wave of activism bringing
new diverse feminists to meet the challenges ahead in abortion services.
More from the 20th
Anniversary in the FWHC-WA Herstory
"If
there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you
must write it."
- Toni Morrison
Feminist Women's Health Center |
