Over 1,000 people recently gathered in Washington, DC to attend the National Abortion Federation’s annual awards ceremony. Seated just in front of the stage was Chief Medical Officer Dr. Serina Floyd of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC (PPMW), who would soon be honored with the C. Lalor Burdick Award for “unsung heroes in reproductive health and rights.”
Dr. Floyd was surrounded by joyful friends, loved ones, and colleagues past and present as she prepared to receive this prestigious recognition, celebrating her high-impact work as a national advocate for abortion rights, a leader in the medical community, and an expert, compassionate care provider.
Champion for health care access and equity
“It is impossible to overstate the impact Dr. Floyd’s work and words have had,” shared PPMW Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Planning, and Governance Lena Beth Schneider, during the awards ceremony.
In addition to being a board-certified OB/GYN and chief medical officer at PPMW, Dr. Floyd is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, where she chairs the Committee on Advancing Health Equity in Obstetric and Gynecologic Health Care and co-chairs the Abortion Access and Training Expert Work Group. She also chairs Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s National Medical Committee. She is a fellow of Physicians for Reproductive Health and a member of the Society of Family Planning.
These roles speak to Dr. Floyd’s deep commitment to reproductive health equity — a commitment also reflected in the advancements made under her leadership at PPMW. During Dr. Floyd’s tenure as chief medical officer, PPMW has expanded its services to include primary care, gender-affirming hormone therapy, and telehealth care, and has continually worked to support the patient experience.
As one PPMW staff member notes, Dr. Floyd “wears so many different hats, from being a manager, a provider, an advocate, an accreditor, [to] speaking at press conferences, interviewing for podcasts and news outlets, and testifying on behalf of sexual and reproductive freedom.”
Dr. Floyd has been vocal and resolute in her defense of essential sexual and reproductive health care on a national stage. Earlier this year, she offered expert insight during a Senate hearing on the state of abortion access in the U.S. There, she described how the effects of abortion bans and restrictions are exacerbated for marginalized communities. She emphasized how much work is to be done to ensure equitable access to abortion care, noting, “Roe was always the floor, not the ceiling.”
Dr. Floyd (left) and her mother, Dr. Sherlynn Walker-Shakir, pose for a photo with the C. Lalor Burdick Award
“A calling that for me has no substitute”
Attendees rose in standing ovation to welcome Dr. Floyd to the stage with rapturous applause, to receive the C. Lalor Burdick Award. After sharing her gratitude, Dr. Floyd got to the heart of what drives her leadership in this field during such a challenging time. She shared, “This work is not just my profession, but it is my passion, as those who know me well can attest. It is a calling that for me has no substitute.”
Dr. Floyd went on to say, “This award is not just a recognition of my passion, but also of the wonderful people who surround me and support me in doing this work.” In addition to thanking her mother, husband, children, and colleagues, she individually named and thanked each PPMW colleague who joined her at the ceremony that day.
Dr. Floyd’s concluding words focused on her patients. She emphasized, “I want to lift up and thank my patients — the people for whom I am here, the people for whom I do this work, the people who continue to keep me going, even when this work is the most challenging.” It was a fitting reminder from a provider who centers patient needs in all she does.
Support Dr. Floyd’s work in providing essential health care, including abortion care, to patients from near and far, through a donation to PPMW or directly to the PPMW Abortion Access Fund.
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