The Reproductive Advocacy and Diversity in Advanced Nursing Training (RADIANT) Fellowship provides two distinct education programs for Illinois clinicians: one focused on integrating abortion care into practice, and another dedicated to advancing emergency department clinicians' skills in delivering essential reproductive healthcare.
The RADIANT Fellowship aims to create a sustainable model for advancing abortion care statewide by providing targeted, FREE education to interested Illinois-licensed healthcare providers and supporting the rollout of reproductive services to close gaps in access.
The RADIANT Emergency Department (ED) Fellowship provides training and resources to Illinois-based clinicians in the delivery of essential reproductive healthcare in Emergency Department settings.
About the RADIANT Fellowship
Training advanced practice clinicians (APCs)—i.e., midwives and advanced practice registered nurses—to safely provide medical and procedural abortion reduces costs and complications for patients and the health care system. The Fellowship is also open to physician (MD/DO) and physician associate/assistant applicants.
In 2023, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed reproductive rights protections into law, affirming medical and procedural management of abortion are part of the legal scope of care for certified nurse-midwives and advanced practice registered nurses in Illinois.
The safety and quality of abortion care provided by APCs is well-established in the literature and supported by national professional organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the National Abortion Federation, the American Public Health Association, the World Health Organization and the American College of Nurse Midwives.
APCs currently provide procedural and/or medication abortions in 23 states.
In 2024, Illinois clinics provided nearly 25% of all cross-state abortions—more than any other state. Nearly 40% of abortions in Illinois were for out-of-state patients. RADIANT helps meet this growing need by preparing new providers to deliver compassionate, high-quality care.
About the RADIANT ED Fellowship
RADIANT Emergency Department (ED) is a FREE, hybrid online/live training program with ED experts to identify and address institutional challenges and develop strategies to implement change while expanding their capacity to be first-line responders to conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, early pregnancy loss and improving their skills in obstetric care. RADIANT ED Fellows meet online with experts in emergency medicine and obstetrics/gynecology over an 11-week program, then meet in-person on the UIC campus for a two-day, live training event.
Both the RADIANT and RADIANT ED Fellowships are supported through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Abortion Provider Capacity Building Grant Program.
Apply to become a fellow
–The RADIANT Fellowship is a FREE program for NPs, CNMs, MD/DOs and PAs licensed in Illinois who want to expand their ability to offer their patients comprehensive reproductive care. Self-paced online learning paired with a two-day, in-person training in Chicago will equip you with in-depth knowledge to provide medication and procedural abortion, patient counseling, and post-abortion care with confidence and compassion. Program length is three (3) months. Spaces are limited.
–The RADIANT ED Fellowship is a FREE program for Emergency Department MD/DOs, NPs, CNMs, and PAs licensed in Illinois who want to strengthen their ability to provide emergency essential reproductive health skills and develop specialized solutions to improving care in their EDs. Accepted applicants are paired into small-group cohorts who meet online with experts over an 11-week program, then attend a two-day, in-person training in Chicago. Program length is four (4) months. Spaces are limited.
Goals of the Program
RADIANT Fellowship
1. Train Providers
Provide training and mentorship for APCs, Physicians and Physician Associates/Assistants in gender-affirming and trauma-informed abortion care.
2. Educate Students
Implementing a standardized abortion curriculum and clinical practice opportunities for APRN students at UIC’s College of Nursing. RADIANT alumni will be offered additional training to serve as preceptors and mentors to the next generation of advanced practice nurses providing abortion care.
3. Expand Access
Offer patient-centered early abortion care to patients through an APC-led abortion clinic at UI Health. This clinic will provide early abortion services and provide clinical training opportunities to RADIANT Fellows and other APCs.
RADIANT ED Fellowship
1. Train Providers
Provide training and mentorship for Physicians, Physician Associates/Assistants, and Advanced Practice Clinicians working in Illinois’ Emergency Departments to strengthen their skills in delivering essential reproductive care.
2. Develop as Clinical Champions
Radiant ED Fellows will work with our Emergency Department experts to identify and address institutional challenges related to reproductive health care delivery and develop strategies to implement change.
RADIANT to Date
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Clinicians Trained Over 65 clinicians from Illinois have completed RADIANT; 14 Emergency Department clinicians completed RADIANT ED in its first year
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Event Attendees Almost 200 clinicians, students, academics and advocates from all over the state have attended our events to date
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Community Events RADIANT has held events on topics related to reproductive health and abortion care in Chicago and beyond; attend our next one!