The Guttmacher Institute is pleased to honor Sandra G. García, Sc.D., director of reproductive health for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Population Council, as the second recipient of the Darroch Award for Excellence in Sexual and Reproductive Health Research. Dr. García’s research documenting abortion-related knowledge, attitudes and practices in Mexico played an important role in the country’s recent decision to legalize first-trimester abortion. Her collaboration with local nongovernmental organizations, universities, professional associations and the Mexican government helped bring about this groundbreaking legislation.
"Sandy is highly deserving of this award," said Sharon L. Camp, Guttmacher’s president and CEO. "Her publication record and her ability to foster excellence among her research team make it clear that she has an absolute commitment to improving sexual and reproductive rights through sound research that can be easily applied to public policy."
Dr. García’s dedication to advancing women’s sexual and reproductive rights has led to important progress in the field beyond the recent change in Mexico’s abortion law. Her more than 30 peer-reviewed publications cover a wide range of topics, including applied research on new reproductive technologies, surveys of women’s knowledge about emergency contraception, programs to prevent STDs among newborns and innovative methods for measuring abortion incidence. Dr. García is originally from Canutillo, Texas.
The Darroch Award was established in 2005 to recognize excellence among sexual and reproductive health researchers who are in the early or middle years of their career. It is named for Jacqueline E. Darroch, Ph.D., former senior vice president for science at Guttmacher, whose three decades at the Institute exemplified rigorous and innovative work on sexual and reproductive health issues, and commitment to the practical application of research to policy and programs. The first recipient of the award was Elizabeth G. Raymond, M.D., M.P.H., a researcher at Family Health International and a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist.
For more information about the award, click here.