Dr. George Tiller worked tirelessly for women over the last 36 years of his career as an abortion provider. Providing care in Kansas, he endured substantial harassment as one of the few U.S. physicians performing late-term abortions and an important provider in the Midwest.

The Abortion Access Project is profoundly saddened by Dr. Tiller's murder on Sunday, May 31, 2009. As a healthcare provider deeply committed to women's health and autonomy, his death is a tragic and unjust loss.

AAP extends its heartfelt sympathy to Dr. George Tiller's family and co-workers.  Dr. Tiller will be remembered as a compassionate, kind, and steadfast colleague who showed exceptional courage in his refusal to abandon his patients even in the face of extreme harassment and violence.

"I train my colleagues in rural communities because I believe when it comes to accessing health care, women shouldn't have to cross mountains," notes Dr. Savita Ginde, PPRM Medical Director and lead trainer at AAP sponsored trainings in rural Colorado.

Dr. Ginde's commitment combined with AAP's organizing strategies yield unique outreach efforts into rural communities. After an AAP/PPRM training with Dr. Ginde in Alamosa in February 2007, Anne Devereux, an organizer for the AAP and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) collaboration in Colorado, provided individualized and ongoing technical assistance to two doctors from the training. The result of her efforts? A contract between two local physicians and a family planning clinic in the area to offer early abortion services in the small town. With nearly four hours drive between Alamosa and the capital of Denver, new services is a major step towards making abortion accessible to rural women in the surrounding community - a step not unlike moving mountains.