School of Social Work and Social Policy

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Room 3063, Arts Building
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin 2
Ireland

Phone: 01 896 2001

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swsp@tcd.e Gaeilge

Danielle Young

Picture of Danielle facing the camera with a blurred background

Supervisors: Louise Caffrey and Catherine Conlon

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Working Title of PhD: After Yes: A Realist Synthesis and Evaluation of GP Provided Abortion Services in the Republic of Ireland

Description of Research: The Irish community-based early medication abortion provision system is novel and innovative and can serve as a model of learning for other high-income countries. The majority of abortions in Ireland are provided in General Practice. The service was started in January 2019 with the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act in December 2018. This study will apply realist methodology to systematically theorise why GPs provide (or not) early medication abortion services, in what contexts, and for whom this service works (or not).

Funder of Research: Trinity Research Doctorate Award

Select Articles:

Bratt, K; Young, D; Favier, M; Horgan, P; Conlon, C; Murphy, M. Early medical abortion in Irish general practice: the ADAPT data collection project and telemedicine as routine care. BMJ Sexual & Repro Health. 2026. doi:10.1136/bmjsrh-2026-203296

Smith, M; Young, D; Dismer, H; Diskin, V; Hasselbacher, L; Rivlin, K; Bessett, D; Norris, AH. Illinois as a receiving state: Clinic adaptations and changes in abortion use after Dobbs in Illinois, July 2021-June 2023. Am J Public Health. 2026; 116(3): 359-367.

Zuniga, C; Hernandez, V; Stulberg, D; Hasselbacher, L; McHugh, A; Young, D; Dismer, H; Thompson, TA. Changes in abortion access after implementation of Medicaid coverage in Illinois: A retrospective analysis. BMJ Public Health. 2025; https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2024-001966. 

Young, D; Schumm, LP; McHugh, A; Whitaker, AK; Stulberg, D. Rapid Innovation and Adaptation in Contraceptive Care using Telemedicine (RIACCT): Evaluating impact and sustainability at Planned Parenthood of Illinois. Telemedicine and e-Health. 2025; doi: 10.1089/tmj.2024.0513

Borders, A; Keenan-Devlin, L; Young, D; Grobman, W; Lee King, P. Reducing severe maternal morbidity for birthing persons with severe hypertension through a statewide quality improvement initiative. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2024; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2024.04.026 

Quasebarth, M; Boesche, M; Turner, T; Moore, A; Young, D; Stulberg, D; Hasselbacher, L. Patient experiences using public and private insurance coverage for abortion in Illinois: implementation successes and remaining gaps. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2024;1-13.

Young, D; Fitzgerald, K; Laursen, L; Whitaker, AK. Comparison of vaginal and buccal misoprostol after mifepristone for medication abortion through 70 days of gestation: A retrospective chart review. Contraception. 2022; 115:62-66.

Chor, J; Young, D; Quinn, M; Gilliam, M. A novel lay health worker training to help women engage in post-abortion contraception and well-woman care. Health Promotion Practice. 2020;21(2): 172-174

Sipsma, H; Rabinowitz, M; Young, D; Philipi, C; Larson, I; Kair, L. Exposure to hospital breastfeeding support by maternal race/ethnicity: A pilot study. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. 2019 Nov; 4(6):743-748.

Lee King, P; Young, D; Borders, A. A framework to harness the power of quality collaboratives to improve perinatal outcomes. Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019 Sep; 62(3):606-620.

Select Conferences:

Conlon, C; Bratt, K; Young, D; Favier, M; Horgan, P; Murphy, M. Activity Data on Abortion in General Practice (ADAPT): Initiating a sustainable, standardized database for early medical abortion provision in Irish primary care. Presented as an eposter at the FIAPAC 16 Conference, 2026. 

Hebert, L; Quasebarth, M; Firstenberg, A; Safarloo, A; Young, D; Alegria, R; Sanchez Mauricio, I; Thies, K; Knauber-Ferriegel, K; Tocce, K; Whitaker, A. Safety and efficacy of MAB provided by advanced practice clinicians in the Midwest and Mountain West. Presented as a poster presentation for the 2026 National Abortion Federation Annual Meeting.

Young, D; Schumm, LP; McHugh, A; Whitaker AK; Stulberg, D. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on contraceptive access at Planned Parenthood of Illinois. Presented as a poster presentation at the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists 2022 Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting.

Young, D; Keenan-Devlin, L; Freedman, A; Lee King, P; Borders, A. Achieving time to treatment goal for severe maternal hypertension does not result in adverse change in fetal heart rate category in statewide perinatal quality initiative. Presented as poster presentation at the 2019 Society for Reproductive Investigation Annual Meeting.

Young, D; Collins, SA; Culbertson, S; Iyer, S; Letko, J; Valaitis, S. Predictors of surgical vs. non-surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse. Presented as a poster presentation at the 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS). 

Young, D; Preyss, M; Sipsma, H; Hair, S; Siddiqui, M. Depression and social support during antepartum hospitalization: A needs assessment. ePoster presented at the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists 2017 Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting.