Laura Schummers ScD

Dangerfield M, Johnston BK, Nethery E, Torry H, Sagert P, Ennis M, Ohtsuka M, Munro S, Schummers L. Intrauterine contraception device satisfaction and continuation in an urban youth clinic in British Columbia, Canada: a longitudinal survey study. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. Accepted May 16, 2025. In press.

Nethery E, Hutcheon JA, Lee J, Janssen P, Schummers L. Effects of a province-wide change in gestational diabetes screening policy on treatment and newborn birth weight. (Accepted May 7, 2025) Diabetes Care 2025; dc250480. doi: 10.2337/dc25-0480

Downey AK, Hanna SE, Levine M, Schummers L, Guindon E. The association between universal pharmacare and contraceptive dispensations among youth. JAMA Pediatrics. Accepted Apr 7, 2025. In press.

Schummers L, Dunn S, Cheng C, Norman WV. Trends in abortion rates in Ontario, Canada, 2012–2022. JAMA Network Open. 2025 April 11;8(4):e254516. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.4516

Schummers L*, Law MR, McGrail K, Darling EK, Zusman E, Dunn S, Kaczorowski J, Gayowsky A, Gozydra P, Norman WV. Changes over time in local access to mifepristone dispensed by community pharmacies for medication abortion in Ontario: a population-based repeated cross-sectional cohort study. CMAJ. 2025 April 7;197:E345–354. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.241505

• “Editor’s Pick” article for the journal issue, received widespread public media coverage.

Nethery E, Pickerill K, Butska L, Turner M, Hutcheon JA, Janssen P, Schummers L. Perinatal outcomes following non-adherence to guideline-based screening for gestational diabetes in British Columbia, Canada: A population-based cohort study. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 2025; 104(5): 839–849. First published online March 17. DOI: 10.1111/aogs.15098

Schummers L, Darling EK, Dunn S, McGrail K, Gayowsky A, Law MR; Lea-Laba T; Kaczorowski J, Norman WV. Abortion safety and use with normally prescribed mifepristone in Canada. New England Journal of Medicine. 2022; 386: 57–67. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsa2109779

Schummers L, Hutcheon JA. To the editor: Study quality must be considered when drawing conclusions about long-term outcomes associated with preterm exposure to antenatal corticosteroids. JAMA Pediatrics. Accepted May 2022. Epub ahead of print: doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.2855

Schummers L; McGrail K, Darling EK, Dunn S, Gayowsky A, Kaczorowski J, Norman WV. A more accurate approach to define induced abortion cohorts using linked administrative data: an application to Ontario, Canada. International Journal of Population Data Science. 2022; 7(1) doi:10.23889/ijpds.v7i1.1700

Schummers L, Hutcheon JA, Norman WV, Liauw J, Bolatova T, Ahrens KA. Short interpregnancy interval and pregnancy outcomes: How important is the timing of confounding variable ascertainment? Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology; 2021; 35(4): 428–437 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ppe.12716 

Schummers L, Hutcheon JA, Hernandez-Diaz S, Williams PL, Hacker MR, VanderWeele TJ, Norman WV. Association of Short Interpregnancy Interval with Pregnancy Outcomes According to Maternal Age. JAMA Internal Medicine 2018; 178(12): 1661–1670 doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4696

Schummers L, Hutcheon JA, Hacker MR, VanderWeele TJ, Williams PL, McElrath TE, Hernandez-Diaz S. Absolute risks of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes according to maternal age at first birth: results from a population-based cohort. Epidemiology, 2018;29(3): 379–387. PMID: 29517506 doi: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000818

Schummers L, Himes K, Bodnar L, Hutcheon J. Predictor characteristics necessary for building a clinically useful risk prediction model: a simulation study. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 2016;16:123. PMID: 27655140 doi:10.1186/s12874-016-0223-2

Schummers L, Hutcheon J, Bodnar L, Lieberman E, Himes K. Risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes by prepregnancy body mass index: a population-based study to inform prepregnancy weight loss counseling. Obstet Gynecol. 2015;125(1): 133–143. PMCID: PMC4285688 doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000000591

Schummers L, Liauw J. Commentary: Long interpregnancy interval and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: difficulties in interpreting and translating data to clinical practice. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology; Epidemiology; 2021; 35(4): 425–427. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12795

Nethery E, Schummers L, Levine A, Souter V, Gordon W. Birth outcomes in planned home and freestanding birth center births in Washington State. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2021;138(5): 693–702.

2025 Distinguished Academics Early Career Award, Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC.
The purpose of the CUFA BC Distinguished Academics Awards is to recognize academics in British Columbia public research universities who have made outstanding contributions to the community beyond the academy through their academic work. The Early in Career Award recognizes outstanding contributions made by scholars at relatively early stages in their careers. March 2025. https://cufa.bc.ca/award/2025-winners-and-nominees-of-the-distinquished-academics-awards/

2022 Labelle Lecturer, McMaster University Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis: https://chepa.mcmaster.ca/news-events/labelle-lectureship 

Killam Postdoctoral Research Prize 2022, University of British Columbia: https://www.postdocs.ubc.ca/article/postdoctoral-fellows-receive-killam-research-prize 

2022 Top 10 Articles of the Year (2021–2022), CIHR Institute for Health Services and Policy Research and the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research: https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/53012.html 

2021 Outstanding Achievement by a Postdoctoral Fellow award, BC Children’s Health Research Institute: https://www.bcchr.ca/news/congratulations-recipients-2021-outstanding-achievement-awards 

Effect of Canada's first universal contraception subsidy on access, pregnancy outcomes, and costs: a population-based controlled interrupted time series study. CIHR Project Grant. 2025–2029. $929,476.

Effect of Canada's first universal contraception subsidy on access, pregnancy outcomes, and costs: a population-based controlled interrupted time series study. CIHR Bridge Grant. 2024–2025. $100,000.

Barriers and Facilitators for Pharmacists to Prescribe Contraception in BC: a mixed-methods study. UBC Health – BC Ministry of Health Research Seed Grant. 2024–2025. $50,000.

Enhancing reproductive population health research through novel database development: Building big data infrastructure. Canadian Foundation for Innovation & BC Knowledge Development Foundation John R. Evans Leaders Fund. 2024–2029. $300,000.

Effect of a radio campaign on contraception use in Nigeria. CIHR Bridge Grant. 2023–2024. $100,000.

"How far is too far?” Creating an evidence base to support safe provision of medication abortion for people living far from emergency services. CIHR Project Grant. 2024–2028. $2,927,508. CoPI.

"How far is too far?” Creating an evidence base to support safe provision of medication abortion for people living far from emergency services. CIHR Bridge Grant. 2023–2024. $100,000. CoPI.

Health system transformation to achieve equitable access to effective contraception. CIHR Catalyst Grant: Policy Research for Health System Transformation. 2023–2024. $150,000.

Schummers L. Improving reproductive population health through patient-oriented health policy and epidemiological research. $460,000, CIHR Patient-Oriented Research Transition to Leadership Phase 2 award, Jan 2023–Dec 2026. Dr. Laura Schummers received a 4-year CIHR Patient-Oriented Research Transition to Leadership Phase 2 award, Improving reproductive population health through patient-oriented health policy and epidemiological research.

“Examining the effect of Canada's unique medical abortion drug policy on patient abortion access and outcomes.” Schummers L (PI). CoIs: Henry B, Bryan S, Darling EK, McGrail K, Norman WV, Prasad S. $155,000. CIHR Patient Oriented Research Transition to Leadership Postdoctoral Fellowship (Phase 1). 2020–2022. Phase 2 currently under review.

“Interpregnancy Interval and Pregnancy Outcomes: Defining Optimal Intervals for High-Risk Populations.” Schummers L (PI). CoI Liauw J. $10,000. BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Clinical and Translational Seed Grant. 2020–2022.

“Pandemic Reproductive health and health Equity- Guidance from Epidemiology to improve reproductive, perinatal, and maternal mental health and substance use care” CIHR Project Grant Priority Announcement Bridge Funding.

“Catalyst to facilitate access to mifepristone and outcomes study.” Schummers L (PI). CoIs: Norman WV, Darling EK, McGrail K, Dunn S, Webster G. $25,000. Women’s Health Research Institute Catalyst Grant. 2018–2019.

“Population-based epidemiological analyses to evaluate and inform reproductive health policies in British Columbia.” Schummers L (PI). CoIs: Henry B, Norman WV. $155,000. CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship. 2018–2020.

“Mifepristone outcomes study: examining abortion access, outcomes, and costs following the introduction of mifepristone in BC.” Schummers L (PI). CoIs: Norman WV, McGrail K. $124,500. Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research; Research Trainee Award. 2018–2021.

Invited Talks:

• Schummers L. Administrative health data for quasi-experimental policy evaluation: Applications to reproductive health policy in Canada. Invited seminar: Research Centre for the Analysis of Public Policies, University of Modena. Modena, Italy. July 17, 2025.
• Schummers L. Administrative health data for quasi-experimental policy evaluation: Applications to reproductive health policy in Canada. Invited seminar: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Specialization School of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Department of Surgical Sciences. University of Cagliari. Cagliari, Italy. July 11, 2025.
• Schummers L. Health policy impacts on reproductive health service use, access, and outcomes: what can international settings learn from Canadian quasi-experimental policy evaluations? Invited seminar: Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications, Population and Society Research Unit, University of Florence and Andrology, Women’s Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Careggi Hospital, Florence. Florence, Italy. July 7, 2025.
• Schummers L. Effects of contraception and abortion policy changes on service use, access, and reproductive health: a program of research in Canada. Invited Keynote presentation. Grand challenges in the international landscape in women's sexual and reproductive health. Bi-annual meeting of the SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence in Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care (Monash University) in Melbourne, Australia. Prato, Italy June 30–July 3 2025.
• Schummers L. Administrative health data for quasi-experimental policy evaluation: Applications to reproductive health policy in Canada. Invited seminar: Department of Social Sciences and Economics, Sapienza University of Rome. University of Cagliari. Rome, Italy. June 25, 2025.

Schummers L. Survey of pharmacists on contraception prescribing. Beyond Pills: Exploring pharmacists’ role in long-acting reversible contraception services. Vancouver BC, Feb 21, 2025.

Schummers L, Kuo IF, Law MR. The impact of BC’s contraception subsidy: an interrupted time series analysis. UBC Centre for Health Services and Policy Research Seminar. UBC School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver BC, Dec 17, 2024.Over 200 registrants, including policymakers from provincial and federal government.

Schummers L. System transformation to achieve equitable access to effective contraception. CIHR Institute for Health Services and Policy Research: Policy Research for Health System Transformation – End-of-Grant Research Roundtable. Virtual. Oct 29–30, 2024. 

Schummers L. Identifying abortions in population data: methods, challenges, and implications for reproductive and perinatal cohort studies. Invited by symposium chairs convening the panel: What do we do in the shadows: “invisible” pregnancies, bias, and mitigation strategies. Society of Epidemiologic Research 2024 Annual Meeting. Austin, Texas. June 18–21, 2024.

Schummers L, Xia J. Pharmacy education practice update: Contraception curriculum in the UBC Entry-to-PharmD program. 8TH BC Women’s – CART – OPTIONS Provincial Meeting Contraception & abortion in BC: experience guiding research guiding care. Vancouver, BC. March 6, 2024.

Schummers L. Conception cohorts to strengthen reproductive population health research. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Seminar Series, Vancouver, BC. Oct 11, 2023.

Schummers L. Improving reproductive population health through health policy and outcomes research. FLIGHT Program Symposium, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia. May 19, 2023.

Schummers L. System transformation to achieve equitable access to effective contraception. CIHR Policy Research for Health System Transformation Workshop, Institute for Health Services and Policy Research. May 3, 2023. Virtual.

Schummers L, Darling EK, Norman WV. Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Director, Acute and Ambulatory Care Information Services (AACIS), Data Strategies and Statistics Division. Invited Evidence Brief, Abortion Surveillance, for Juliana Wu and team members. 2022 Nov 30.

Schummers L. 2021 Labelle Lecturer. Improving reproductive population health through health policy and outcomes research. Invited endowed lectureship, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University. Hamilton, ON; November 9, 2022. https://chepa.mcmaster.ca/news-events/labelle-lectureship. 

“Abortion safety and uptake with normally prescribed mifepristone.” Schummers L, Darling EK. Invited presentation to ICES Board of Directors. Toronto, ON. January 26, 2022.

“Federal success to improve abortion access in Canada: An analysis of the effect of mifepristone restriction removal and COVID 19 pandemic on abortion access and equity.” Norman WV, Schummers L. Invited presentation to Health Canada’s Chief Medical Officer, Government of Canada, and to CEO Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists of Canada. Ottawa June 18, 2021.

Abortion utilization and safety when mifepristone is available without regulations restricting practice? A population-based study using linked health administrative data from Canada.” Schummers L. Awarded “Best of Three” Oral Presentation for the 2021 Annual Clinical and Scientific Conference of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada; Whistler, BC, June 23, 2021.

“Abortion utilization and safety following mifepristone availability and deregulation in Canada: a population-based study from Ontario.” Norman WV, Schummers L. Invited presentation to Health Canada’s Chief Medical Officer, Government of Canada, and to CEO Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists of Canada. Ottawa February 24, 2021.

“Short interpregnancy interval and pregnancy outcomes: How important is the timing of confounding variable ascertainment?“ Schummers L. 2020 Society of Perinatal Epidemiologic Research; December 16, 2020: Boston, MA.

“Short interpregnancy interval and pregnancy outcomes: How important is the timing of confounding variable ascertainment?“ Schummers L. 2020 Society of Epidemiologic Research; December 16, 2020: Boston, MA.

Schummers L, Darling EK, Gayoswky A, Dunn S, McGrail K, Law MR, Laba TL, Norman WV. Do medication abortion complications increase without regulations restricting mifepristone practice? a population-based study using single-payer linked health administrative data from Ontario, Canada, 2012–2019. Research presentation at the National Abortion Federation of Canada Annual Meeting November 21, 2020.

Op Ed

Schummers L, Norman WV. When it comes to women’s reproductive health, Canada is not the 51st state. Opinion contribution. Toronto Star. April 11, 2025. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/when-it-comes-to-womens-reproductive-health-canada-is-not-the-51st-state/article_fc30cbbf-ec69-4d6d-9641-748c206bd942.html

Since 2022

Las Vegas Sun. Kyle Chouinard. Federal judge lets Nevada company intervene in abortion pill case. Expert interview with Dr. Laura Schummers describing results of 2021 research on abortion pill safety and summarizing available evidence on safety. April 30, 2025.

The Globe and Mail. Kristy Kirkup. Access to abortion services in Ontario substantially increased in five years after mifepristone made available, study finds. Coverage on 2025 CMAJ paper, interview with Dr. Laura Schummers. April 7, 2025.

The Canadian Press. Hannah Alberga. Abortion access in Ontario rose to over 90% after the pill was approved: study. Coverage on 2025 CMAJ paper, interview with Dr. Laura Schummers. April 7, 2025. 

• This story was picked up by numerous news outlets, including: Toronto Star, Global News, Times Colonist, City News Toronto, City News Ottawa, Vancouver is Awesome, Winnipeg Free Press, Yahoo!life, SooToday, MidlandToday, BayToday, Delta Optimist, Peak, CHCH News, Castanet, Rocky Mountain Outlook, Nation Talk, Unpublished, North Shore News, Timmins Today, St. Albert Gazette, Milton Today, Jasper Fitzhugh, New West Record, CP24, Comunidade de Saude, Raw News.

Medscape. Carolyn Crist. Abortion access increased with mifepristone availability. Coverage on 2025 CMAJ paper, interview with Dr. Laura Schummers. April 8, 2025.

Health Medicine Network. HMN 2025: How local entry to abortion providers expanded with mifepristone in group pharmacies, Canadian. April 8, 2025.

Medical Xpress. Canadian Medical Association Journal. Local access to abortion services expanded with mifepristone in community pharmacies, Canadian study finds. Coverage on 2025 CMAJ paper, interview with Dr. Laura Schummers. April 7, 2025. Today Headline.

Global News. Jas Johal Show. Dr. Laura Schummers was interviewed on the Jas Johal show about her April 11 2025 paper in JAMA Network Open. April 15, 2025.

CBC Radio-Canada. Dr. Sabrina Lee was interviewed on Panorama about Dr. Schummers’s April 11 2025 paper in JAMA Network Open. [French interview] April 15, 2025.

Medscape. Fran Lowry. Abortion rates stable in Canada but spike elsewhere. Coverage on 2025 JAMA Network Open paper, interview with Dr. Laura Schummers. April 18, 2025.

UBC News. Erik Rolfsen. Why abortion rates are rising abroad – but not in Canada. April 14, 2025. This Q&A was picked up by Mirage News.

News-Medical Life Sciences. ICES. Abortion rates remain stable in Ontario despite global spike. Coverage on Dr. Schummers’s 2025 JAMA Network Open paper. April 11, 2025. This story was picked up by MSN UK.

Health Medicine Network. HMN 2025: How abortion charges stay comparatively secure in Canada, whereas charges spike in UK, Europe and US. Coverage on Dr. Schummers’s 2025 JAMA Network Open paper. April 12, 2025.

Las Vegas Sun. Kyle Chouinard. Nevada drugmaker joins legal effort to fight rollback of abortion pill rules. Expert interview with Dr. Laura Schummers describing results of 2021 research on abortion pill safety, commenting on legal context of abortion pills and summarizing available evidence on safety. March 16, 2025.

The Globe and Mail. Kelly Grant. UBC research shows increase in birth-control use after province made contraception free. Reports results of Dr. Schummers’ research, as presented in a public seminar. December 18, 2024.

The Canadian Press. Alberga H. Canadian non-profit that facilitates abortion pill access sees surge in U.S. requests (interview with Dr. Schummers). November 27, 2024. 

• This story was picked up by numerous news outlets, including: The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, CTV News, MSN, SaskToday.ca, Ground News, OrilliaMatters, Straight Arrow News, HaltonHillsToday, Lakeland Today, Unpublished.ca, Castanet, Airdrie City View, Toronto City News, Powell River Peak, Burnaby Now, Delta Optimist, Bowen Island Undercurrent, The Reminder, Canadian Healthcare Network.

Science News. Megan Rosen. As US courts weigh in on mifepristone, here’s the abortion pill’s safety record. Interview with Dr. Schummers. May 19, 2023.

Washington Post. Lisa Jarvis.  The FDA should scrap needless restrictions on Abortion pills. Interview with Dr. Schummers on May 6 2022 NEJM research article and abortion access context in Canada and the U.S. May 6. 2022.

Bloomberg. Lisa Jarvis. The FDA should scrap needless restrictions on Abortion pills. Interview with Dr. Schummers on May 6 2022 NEJM research article and abortion access context in Canada and the U.S. May 6. 2022.

CMAJ News. Lauren Vogel with files from Diana Duong. What the U.S. overturning Roe v. Wade means for Canada. Interview with Dr. Schummers on Jan 2022 NEJM research article and abortion access context in Canada and the U.S. May 6. 2022.

Harvard Law Bill of Health. Ameet Sarpatwari, Alexander Egilman, Beatrice Brown, and Aaron S. Kesselheim. Blog Post. Monthly Round-Up of What to Read on Pharma Law and Policy. Feb 23 2022. Highlights Jan 2022 NEJM research article.

Relias Media. FDA Approves Telemedicine Abortion; Canadian Study Demonstrates Safety. Interview with Dr. Schummers to discuss Jan 2022 NEJM article. Feb 1 2022.

Obstetrics/Gynecology Update from NEJM. Newsletter. Abortion Safety and Use with Normally Prescribed Mifepristone in Canada. Feb 8 2022. Highlights Jan 2022 NEJM research article.

Marle Benz. Abortion Pill: Canadian Study Finds no Increase in Complications After Removing Restrictions. Interview with Dr. Schummers. 5 Jan 2022. https://medicalresearch.com/abortion-pill-canadian-study-finds-no-increase-in-complications-after-removing-restrictions/.

Medical Dialogues. Nandita Mohan. “Abortion pill prescriptions found to be safe and effective”. Dec 31, 2021. Highlights Jan 2022 NEJM research article.

The Medical Progress. FDA confirms that Mifepristone is safe enough to be delivered by mail. Dec 20, 2021. Highlights Jan 2022 NEJM research article.