Leader of Catholic college’s nursing department held positions with Planned Parenthood

December 03, 2009

The assistant chair of the nursing department at one of the nation’s most prominent Catholic colleges has been associated with Planned Parenthood in two states. The career of Dr. Allyssa Harris, professor of nursing at Boston College, “has included positions at … Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and North Carolina,” according to her website. Dr. Harris received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees from the Jesuit institution.

Dr. Harris is the coauthor of “The Latest Advances in Hormonal Contraception,” an article that appeared in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing in 2008. In the abstract of her dissertation research, Dr. Harris wrote that “African American women represent a unique group of women in the United States and have a long history of lack of reproductive freedom. Slavery and forced procreation, sterilization abuses, the Eugenics movement, and federally mandated contraception have all impacted on African American women's independence in contraceptive decision-making … Nurses have a significant role to play in providing appropriate contraceptive information and education in a culturally competent context that will meet the needs of these women and their families.”

 

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Further information:

• Faculty: William F. Connell School of Nursing (Boston College)
• “The Latest Advances in Hormonal Contraception” (Wiley InterScience)
• Kentucky Catholic university posted Planned Parenthood job opening (CWN, 12/2)
• Michigan Catholic college posts Planned Parenthood job openings (CWN, 12/1)
• Wisconsin Catholic college placed intern with Planned Parenthood (CWN, 11/30)
• Additional link between Kentucky Catholic college, Planned Parenthood (CWN, 11/24)
• Factors that influence contraceptive decision-making in African American women, an intergenerational perspective (Boston College)