This April, I had the privilege of taking an elective at my medical school entitled “Empowering Clinicians-in-Training to Address Domestic Violence.” Through sessions led by physicians, community leaders, survivor advocates, and survivors, my classmates and I learned how to leverage our role as soon-to-be physicians to identify, support, and advocate for survivors of domestic violence.
Not even a week after the course ended, national headlines announced the death of Dr. Cerina Fairfax, a dentist and mother who was killed by her ex-husband amid ongoing divorce proceedings. Only three days later, there was a mass shooting in Louisiana in which a man critically injured his wife and ex-wife and killed eight children (seven of whom were his own) after his wife requested a divorce.
These two tragedies have sparked widespread shock and outrage, initiating long overdue conversations about the devastating reality of domestic violence in this country. In the wake of these heartbreaking acts of violence, it is imperative that we channel our collective grief into action and recognize how essential we, as medical professionals, are to this cause. As I learned in my elective course, domestic violence has become a major public health issue, and physicians are uniquely well-positioned to address domestic violence and create a better future for survivors.
The public health impact of domestic violence
The FBI’s 2026 special report on domestic violence in the U.S. revealed that from 2020 to 2024, 1.1 million individuals were identified as victims of domestic violence, and 11,000 individuals were killed in acts of domestic violence. Rates of domestic violence are steadily increasing and remain shockingly high in this country, with research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that roughly 24 people in the U.S. experience rape, stalking, or physical violence by a partner every minute.
These statistics are devastating on their own, but become even more alarming when considered alongside the body of research describing the profound effects that domestic violence has on survivors’ health. Survivors are noted to have a significantly increased risk of developing depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders, and higher rates of chronic conditions, like cardiovascular disease, asthma, arthritis, and stroke. Domestic violence has an especially pronounced impact on sexual and reproductive health, with research indicating that survivors are at increased risk for STIs, unintended pregnancies, obstetrical complications, pre-term births, and maternal mortality. Moreover, evidence demonstrates that domestic violence has negative effects on the health and development of children living in the home, even if the abuse is not directed at them.
Importance of physicians in addressing domestic violence
For many survivors, medical visits represent one of the only opportunities to speak with another person in the absence of the abuser. As a result, providers of all specialties who are prepared to screen for and address domestic violence can become a rare source of support for patients who may otherwise be navigating their situation alone.
Beyond offering a safe environment, physicians also have the ability to connect survivors to resources for additional support, whether that be a referral to social work, introduction to a community advocate, or information on local shelters or hotlines. Some survivors may not be aware that what they are experiencing is domestic violence, and simply receiving non-judgmental education from providers can be deeply impactful, even if they are not ready to engage with resources. Taking a single moment to screen for domestic violence can make a world of difference for patients who are experiencing abuse.
Current state of domestic violence education for trainees and physicians
Despite being well-positioned to address domestic violence, physicians often do not receive the training needed to safely and sensitively support survivors. Though many professional organizations recommend screening for domestic violence, there are no nationally standardized curricula or competency standards to ensure physicians receive proper training regarding domestic violence.
The absence of standardized education requirements from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) has resulted in insufficient and inconsistent domestic violence education for medical students, with a 2020 study of health professions students revealing that 83.2 percent of students received less than 3 hours of training on domestic violence across their entire medical education. This issue continues into residency as well, as the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) similarly does not currently require domestic violence training for residents. Recent investigation of domestic violence education in trainees revealed that most of the existing curricula are aimed at medical students, and the training that is offered at the resident level tends to be limited to a select group of specialties (notably family medicine, emergency medicine, and internal medicine). For learners of all stages, when formal domestic violence education does exist, it is often short-term, and its effectiveness is rarely measured. Beyond residency, certain states require domestic violence CME for license renewal, but a majority do not despite studies showing that providers who undergo training are more likely to screen for and identify domestic violence.
How physicians can become strong advocates for survivors
To ensure that physicians have the knowledge and skillset needed to sensitively and safely address domestic violence, we must create and mandate standardized domestic violence curricula for physicians at all levels of training. The LCME needs to create a standardized domestic violence curriculum with clear competency requirements for medical students. The ACGME needs to mandate standardized domestic violence education for residents across all specialties. State medical boards need to require CME courses on domestic violence for license renewal. Finally, hospitals and clinics need to educate all providers on the institution-level resources available for survivors. Organizations like the National Health Collaborative on Violence and Abuse (NHCVA) and the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health (NCDVTMH) have long advocated for domestic violence education to be mandated in medical education, and we need to amplify these calls to action.
Until these changes happen, we need to take the initiative to educate ourselves. Every single person deserves to be safe in their homes and in their relationships. As physicians, we have the ability, and responsibility, to be a source of safety, support, and hope for survivors of domestic violence.
Carlin Lockwood is a medical student.
