West Alabama Women's Clinic Rebrands, Continues To Offer Services

TUSCALOOSA, AL — West Alabama Women’s Center on Monday announced it has relaunched as a new patient-centered full-spectrum reproductive health center providing "inclusive, non-judgmental services to patients of all genders," which follows the 2022 decision that banned abortions in Alabama.

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Once known for providing more than half of Alabama's pregnancy terminations before the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, the center is now operating under the name WAWC Healthcare and says its offerings have changed dramatically.

As Patch previously reported, the clinic typically saw 200 patients a month prior to the lead-up to the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. The center then reopened in July 2022 to provide non-abortion services after temporarily ceasing operations for a little more than two weeks.

“We need a name that signals our commitment to any person who may be unable to access care, either because of a lack of insurance, inability to find a doctor who will take Medicaid, encountering clinics that may not respect their gender identity or sexual orientation, or any other issue causing a barrier to medical services," Executive Director Robin Marty said.

Marty said WAWC Healthcare will continue to provide the same health services that it has been offering for nearly two years, including pregnancy verification and free prenatal care for those without insurance, prenatal care for Medicaid and private insurance patients up to the point of delivery, sliding-scale and low out-of-pocket costs for STI testing and treatment, prescriptions for PrEP, a full range of contraceptives including patches, rings, IUDs, pills and beyond, IUD and implant removal, basic gynecological care and gender-affirming healthcare.

Additionally, the clinic says it will also focus on expanding its new prenatal programs, including free doula services, community childbirth education, pre-conception planning under Crystina Hughes, LPN — a DONA certified doula and head of community outreach.

“We know that Alabama is an extremely dangerous place for a Black woman to be pregnant,” Hughes said. “Our job is to lead them through this process and bring them out the other side, whole, healthy, and happily holding her newborn."

WAWC Healthcare said it will also expand its telehealth and pop-up clinics to reach more people across the region.

WAWC Medical Director Dr. Leah Torres also reiterated the center's pledge to stay open for all of the other unmet health care needs outside of pregnancy termination services.

“When abortion became illegal, we pledged to stay open for all the other unmet health needs,” said Dr. Leah Torres, Medical Director. “In the early days we saw maybe five patients a week. Now, we see more than 100 patients a month, most of them coming at the recommendation of friends and family. This community built us up, and our new name signifies that we will remain here for all of them.”

Those with questions or who want more information are asked to contact Marty at robin@walwc.com or (205) 556-2026.

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