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Summer Newsletter

July 13, 2025

 

A Note from Co-Directors


Summer is here, and we hope you’re staying cool and soaking up some well-earned summertime joy!  Whether you're traveling, resting, or out enjoying the season, we’re sending sunshine your way.


If you’re heading to AHEAD this week, please stop by and say hello — We'd love to meet you in person! We invite you to visit us at Booth 219 to learn more about our initiatives, grab some DWDI swag, and engage in conversations about the future of disability inclusion in health professions education. We look forward to seeing you there!


This issue of the Docs with Disabilities Initiative newsletter is packed with updates. It’s a bit longer than usual, but with good reason: we’ve had an incredible year filled with growth, milestones, and moments worth celebrating. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to browse and check out our team’s amazing accomplishments.


DWDI is a labor of love — built and run by volunteers, people like you who chose to get involved and take action. And we’re supported by a broader network — YOU — who use and share our resources, cite our research, and elevate the voices featured in our podcast. We hope every time you engage with DWDI; you feel the informed, passionate community spirit that powers this work.


There’s so much good happening. And there’s still so much more to do.

Thank you for being part of this movement, believing in our mission, and all the work you do — every single day.


In solidarity,

Lisa and Justin

 

🎉 Big News! 🎉 DWDI in FORBES Magazine!


We’re honored to share that the Docs with Disabilities Initiative (DWDI) has been named to the inaugural Forbes Accessibility 100—a global list recognizing 50 individuals and 50 organizations driving transformative change in disability inclusion across education, healthcare, innovation, and beyond.


This recognition is a powerful milestone—celebrating how far we've come together and a reminder of the work still ahead. We dedicate this honor to the unwavering resilience, passion, and advocacy of our community. Your voices, stories, and commitment continue to fuel the movement.


✨ Thank you for being part of this journey.✨ Thank you for believing in what's possible.✨ Thank you for advancing accessibility and justice in the health professions.



📘 New Resource Alert!


Access in Nursing Terminology Guide is here!

This free guide was created by and for Disability Resource Professionals (DRPs) working in nursing education. It’s designed to help you better support disabled students in clinical training by providing the context, language, and tools you need to:


✅ Understand clinical expectations

🤝 Collaborate more effectively with nursing faculty

✨ Support disabled learners with confidence


Whether you're new to nursing programs or looking to deepen your practice, this guide is for you.


📥 Download for FREE: https://bit.ly/AIN_TerminologyGuide

 

Upcoming Events


Clinical Accommodations Series: Advancing Access and Opportunity in Clinical Training Environments


Disabled medical students continue to face barriers to full participation in clinical training due to inconsistent access to accommodations and unclear policies. The Clinical Accommodations Series addresses this challenge with a three-part webinar series, moving from research to application to strategic leadership.


Grounded in a national Delphi study, each session builds on the last, providing tools, language, and strategies necessary to create inclusive clinical learning environments. Join us to learn from national experts and gain actionable insights to support disabled learners in clinical education.


Webinar 1: Standardized Clinical Accommodations: Findings from a National Delphi Study


📅 Date: August 7, 2025 🕓 Time: 4–5 PM EST 🎤 Panelists: Drs. Matt Sullivan, Lisa Meeks, Suchi Rastogi 



In this session, we will explore the results of a national Delphi study that established a consensus-based list of 75 clinical accommodations across six domains. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how standardized accommodation language can improve equity for disabled learners.


Webinar 2: Standardized Clinical Accommodations: Releasing the New Guide!


📅 Date: October 20, 2025 🕓 Time: 12–1 PM EST 🎤 Panelists: Matt Sullivan, Grace Clifford, Sarah Triano, student contributor 🗣️ Moderator: Lisa Meeks 



Join us for Webinar 2 as we unveil the Clinical Accommodations Guide—a practical tool designed to streamline accommodation processes. Learn how this guide can support DRPs, faculty, and students and create transparent, consistent accommodations.


Webinar 3: Clinical Accommodations Guide: Implementation and Infrastructure


📅 Date: January 2026 🕓 Time: 12–1 PM EST 🎤 Panelists: Zainub Dhanani, Matt Sullivan, Sarah Triano, Lauren Cobbs 🗣️ Moderator: Lisa Meeks 📍 Registration link coming soon.


In this final session, we’ll focus on strategy and sustainability. Join institutional leaders and disability experts as they explore how to implement the Clinical Accommodations Guide for long-term equity in clinical education.


This series is co-sponsored by the DWDI, SMADIE, DM3P, MSDCI, AHEAD and AAMC.


DREAM Research Rounds


The DREAM Research Rounds provide a platform for scholars, educators, and advocates to present cutting-edge research, discuss best practices, and explore strategies to improve accessibility and inclusion across health professions education.


📅 Mark your calendars!Join us for the upcoming DREAM Research Rounds on Thursday, August 14th, 2025🕓 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST


🎤 Featuring speakers: Erin Broskowski and Sarah Triano


Don’t miss this important conversation on disability, research, and advancing inclusion in medical education! 💡🧠📚


Register for the upcoming DREAM Research Rounds: https://bit.ly/DREAMRounds_August2025


Previous DREAM Rounds are now on YouTube!


We are thrilled to highlight the success of two recent DREAM Research Rounds.


Rewriting Belonging: Disrupting Ableism in Medical Education Through Poetry

Rewriting Belonging: Disrupting Ableism in Medical Education Through Poetry, led by Dr. Megan Brown, a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher in Medical Education at Newcastle University, UK. This session explored the use of poetic inquiry to elevate disabled voices and address structural ableism in medical education. Dr. Brown's approach prompted reflection on teaching, research, and interactions within the field. If you missed the session or want to revisit the discussion, the full recording is now available online.


Accuracy of Transcripts in Preclinical Medical School Lectures

Accuracy of Transcripts in Preclinical Medical School Lectures, held on May 14th, explored the accuracy of transcripts in preclinical medical school lectures, an essential yet under-researched area of equitable medical education. Led by Lindsay Ma (M4, University of Michigan) and Dr. Christopher Grondin (Assistant Professor, Hospital Medicine, University of Michigan). Check out the video and read the published article.


New Learning Modules


This video provides an overview of the faculty role in informing and implementing accommodations for students with disabilities, as discussed in Chapter 4 of Equal Access for Students with Disabilities, authored by Elisa P. Laird, Jan Serrantino, and J. Leigh Culley.


This video explores common disability categories and the types of documentation needed to support accommodation requests, as outlined in Chapter 7 of Equal Access for Students with Disabilities, authored by Elisa P. Laird and Gregory A. Moorehead.


Publications


We are excited to share a series of important new publications that highlight significant strides in the ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in health professions education.


●      "The Role, Challenges, and Employment Characteristics of Disability Resource Professionals in Medical Education," this study from the DWDI Access in Medicine (AIM) team, led by Erin Broskowski and Sarah Triano, MS, NCC, LPC, examines the critical role of Disability Resource Professionals (DRPs) in medical education.


●      "Compounded Challenges: The Impact of Race and Disability on Leave of Absence and Time to Graduation During Undergraduate Medical Education," led by William Eidtson and Mytien Nguyen, this study in Academic Medicine Journal, explores the compounded challenges faced by medical students with both disabilities and underrepresented racial/ethnic minority (URiM) status.


●      "Diversity Statements in Pediatric Residency Programs," led by Zoie C. Sheets, Mytien Nguyen, Blake Hardin, Abrams, Gilliam, Hughes, and Dr. Lisa Meeks, examines the presence and inclusivity of diversity statements in 208 pediatric residency programs.


●      "Perceptions of the Learning Environment Among Medical Students with Disabilities and the Impact of Program Access," led by Christopher Moreland, Melissa Plegue, Zoie C. Sheets, Pereira-Lima, Neera R. Jain, Stergiopoulos, Benjamin Case, Amy Addams, and Lisa Meeks, this study explores the perceptions of over 23,000 U.S. medical students with disabilities (MSWD) regarding their learning environment and program access.


●      “Double Knowing: The Value of Bridging Dual Research Paradigms for Social Change,” In this paper, Neera R. Jain, PhD, MS, and Erene Stergiopoulos, MD, MA, discuss the impact of methodological choices on research aimed at advancing justice for disabled individuals and other equity-denied groups.


●      “The Intersection of Disability, Race, Ethnicity, and Financial Background on Food Insecurity Among Medical Students,” published in Academic Medicine Journal, this article explores food insecurity among 1,659 medical students at 15 medical schools.


●      "Demographic Factors and Burnout Outcomes Associated With Disability Status Uncertainty in U.S. Medical Students," this study examines the impact of disability status uncertainty on burnout among medical students, using data from 27,009 students.


●      “Preparing to Thrive: Supporting Learners With Disabilities Through the Undergraduate-to-Graduate Medical Education Transition,” Zoie C. Sheets, Maureen Fausone, Anne Messman, Pilar Ortega, Jessica Ramsay, Megan Creasman, and Nalinda Charnsangavej share in this article the challenges faced by medical students with disabilities during the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education. 


●      “Evaluating Disability-Inclusive Content on U.S. Medical Schools’ Websites: A National Study,” led by Ifeoma Ikedionwu, Kirsten Ludwig, Dominique Cook, Marjorie Fitzsimmons, Allison Liu, Benjamin Case, Eli Falk, Jeanne Farnan, and Lisa M. Meeks, this study evaluates the presence and quality of disability-inclusive content on U.S. MD-granting medical schools’ websites.


●      “Centering a Justice-Based Approach to Disability Inclusion in Medical Education,” authored by Mytien Nguyen, Justin L. Bullock, Shruthi Venkataraman, and Dowin Boatright, this commentary examines the limitations of current disability inclusion efforts in medical education using a disability justice framework.


●      “Timing of Disability Diagnosis and Accommodations During Medical School by First-Generation Status, Race, Ethnicity, and Gender,” led by Mytien Nguyen, Charlene K. Green, Hyacinth R.C. Mason, Karina Pereira-Lima, Zoie C. Sheets, Samantha L. Schroth, Lydia Smeltz, Christopher J. Moreland, Rylee Betchkal, Christina Growbowski, Dowin Boatright, Michael H. Kim, and Lisa M. Meeks, this study examines how the timing of disability diagnosis impacts the likelihood of receiving accommodations during medical school, with a focus on first-generation status, race, ethnicity, and gender.


●      “Strengthening Disability Inclusion in Medical Education: The Role of Disability Resource Professionals Through Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Framework,” by Sarah E. Triano and Lisa M. Meeks, this article, examines the critical but often overlooked role of Disability Resource Professionals (DRPs) in medical education.


●      “Mapping the Landscape of Technical Standards: A Nationwide Review of Medical Schools,” led by Tracey Singer, Lance Madanguit, King T. Fok, Catherine E. Stauffer, Lisa M. Meeks, Christopher J. Moreland, Lynn Huang, Benjamin Case, Tara Lagu, Allison Kannam, and Carol Haywood, this study reviews the technical standards of U.S. MD- and DO-granting medical schools to assess the adoption of functional language, as recommended by the AMA in 2021.


●      “Standardized Language for Clinical Accommodations in U.S. Undergraduate Medical Training: Results From a National Modified Delphi Consensus Study,” led by Zainub Dhanani, Suchita Rastogi, Matthew Sullivan, Rylee Betchkal, Peter Poullos, and Lisa M. Meeks, this study uses a modified Delphi approach to establish a standardized language for clinical accommodations in U.S. medical schools.


Summit brought together 60 delegates to generate solutions for dismantling accessibility barriers in medical education. We’re grateful to our incredible contributors: Maggie Salinger, MD, MPP, MPH; Mytien Nguyen, MS; Allison Kessler, MD; Sarah Triano, MS; Rylee Betchkal, MS; Emily C. Cleveland Manchanda, MD, MPH; Pilar Ortega, MD, MGM; Zoie C. Sheets, MD, MPH; Nalinda Charnsangavej, MD; Christine Low, MSW; Gabe Abrams; Preetha Basaviah, MD; Liz Bowen, PhD; Zainub Dhanani, MD, MS; James M. Cooke, MD; Ifeoma Ikedionwu, MD; Aggie McGrane, MS; Suchita Rastogi, PhD; Leslie L. Rydberg, MD; Samantha L. Schroth, PhD; Erika Theiler, MEd; Amelia M. Wallace, MMHPE; Peter Poullos, MD; Raymond H. Curry, MD; and Lisa Meeks, PhD, MA.


Presentations


We are proud of our team members for presenting at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) ACE Symposium in Indianapolis:

●      Rachel Derr and Brandy Jackson shared their work on advancing disability inclusion in nursing education.

●      Elizabeth Davis presented on cultivating civility in nursing education.

●      Lisa Meeks participated in a panel discussion on mental well-being in healthcare.


Drs. Maggie Salinger, Christopher Moreland, and Zoie C. Sheets led a powerful and timely workshop titled “Fostering Disability Inclusion in Clinical Learning Environments.”


We are pleased to highlight the following members of our Research and Practice teams who presented at the Annual Scholarship Meeting for the Association for the Study of Medical Education:

  1. Dr. William Eidtson

    Topic: Layered inequities: How race and disability influence leave of absence and time to graduation in medical education. Find related paper here.


  2. Dr. Maggie Salinger

    Topic: Toward disability inclusion in medical training: a qualitative study of challenges and opportunities. Find the related paper here.


  3. Brandy Jackson, MSN, MBA

    Topic: Disability and Accommodation Use in US Bachelor’s Degree Nursing Programs. Find related paper here.


  4. Erin Broskowski

    Topic: Advancing Equity for Disabled Medical Learners: The Critical Role of Disability Resource Professionals. Find the related paper here.


  5. Abigail Konopasky

    Topic: “Didn’t You Know What You Were Signing Up For?”: The Pressure to Normalize for Racially Marginalized Disabled Medical Students. Paper coming soon!


Way to go, team!


DWDI Programs


2025-2026 DRP Academy Cohort Announcement

We are excited to announce the newest cohort of the Disability Resource Professional (DRP) Academy. This exceptional group was selected for their dedication to advancing disability inclusion in medical education. Meet the DRP Academy Cohort:


●      Fraylanie Aglipay – Touro University California

●      Joey Auffray – University of British Columbia – Vancouver Campus

●      John Caldora – The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

●      Alex Carlson – WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine

●      Kelly Cano Martinez – University of New Mexico

●      Stephanie Chesebro – University at Buffalo

●      Daniela Cruz Gomez – UCLA, Center for Accessible Education (CAE)

●      Mariana Davies – University of North Texas Health Science Center

●      Katherine Doktorich – Cornell University

●      Betteena Marco – UCLA, Center for Accessible Education (CAE)

●      Diana Mayo – University of New England, Portland & Biddeford, ME

●      Amanda Mulch – Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

●      Cheryl Newman – NYIT College of Osteopathic MedicineVera Schalansky – Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine


Learn more about the DRP Academy here.


Celebrating Our Team: The Heart of Our Success


It’s because of the dedication and passion of our incredible volunteer team that DWDI continues to make meaningful strides in disability inclusion. We’re proud to share some exciting achievements and honor the amazing people driving our mission forward.


Grace Clifford

We are proud to celebrate Grace Clifford, who has been honored with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Staff Appreciation Award by the Class of 2027. Grace's dedication, compassion, and advocacy impact every student she supports. This recognition is a testament to her incredible work at DGSOM and outstanding leadership as Co-Chair of the Docs With Disabilities Initiative DRP Academy. Congratulations, Grace!


Zoie Sheets

We are thrilled to celebrate Dr. Zoie C. Sheets, a core member of the Docs With Disabilities Initiative Research Lab, for being named the 2025 La Rabida Resident of the Year in Pediatrics at the University of Chicago. This prestigious recognition reflects Zoie’s exceptional clinical excellence, deep commitment to inclusive care, and unwavering advocacy for disability equity in medicine. Congrats  Zoie! 


Katy Stauffer

We’re excited to celebrate Katy Stauffer, who has been named the PGY-2 Rising Star Award recipient by the UPMC PM&R Department! Katy’s dedication, brilliance, and compassion make her a true standout in medicine and in our Docs With Disabilities Initiative Research Lab. Her work continues to inspire and shape the future of accessible care. Congratulations, Katy!


Lisa Meeks

We are proud to celebrate Lisa Meeks, who was honored with a Highly Commended certificate at the 2025 ASME Annual Scholarship Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland. This recognition reflects Lisa’s exceptional contributions to health professions education, particularly her work advancing disability inclusion. Congratulations, Lisa!


Justin Bullock

Justin Bullock MD, MPH has been named the new Associate Director for Educational Scholarship at CLIME! In his new role with CLIME, Dr. Bullock will offer consultations for medical education scholarship, provide feedback at works-in-progress meetings, and co-create programming to support UW School of Medicine faculty in their scholarly efforts. Congratulations, Justin!


New Team Member

We are excited to announce that a new Research Assistant, Jasmine Lopez, has joined the DWDI team! Jasmine is a second-year medical student at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Arizona campus. As an aspiring future physician, Jasmine’s passions include public and global health, serving underserved communities, health and language equity, and accessibility. She is excited to step into the role of DWDI Meeks Lab Research Assistant.


Congratulations, everyone, on your continued success!


We Love Engaging With You


The Docs With Disabilities site has been buzzing lately, and we’re so excited to see the energy building! More folks are visiting, exploring, and sharing resources with others—and it shows.


To continue to grow our community, we invite you to share a resource, send a link to a colleague, or post about our work. Every action helps expand our reach and push this movement forward. Thanks for being part of it—and keep it coming!


Stay Connected with DWDI


At DWDI, we believe that collaboration is key to driving lasting change in health professions education. We invite you to engage with our work in meaningful ways that support our shared mission of advancing accessibility and inclusivity for all learners.

There are many ways to stay involved:


●      Share this newsletter with your colleagues and networks to spread the word about the vital work we are doing.


●      Join us at the AHEAD Conference this week and other upcoming events to connect with fellow advocates and learn more about our initiatives in person.


●      Follow us on our social media channels to keep up-to-date with the latest news, research, and opportunities to engage.


●      Participate in our research rounds and webinars to continue the conversation on improving disability inclusion in medical education.


We are honored to collaborate with each of you as we work together to create a more inclusive environment for all learners. Let’s keep the conversation going—stay connected with us through social media and other channels to stay informed and engaged.


Lisa and Justin


 

For any questions or to get involved, reach out to us at docswithdisabilitiesinitiative@gmail.com.

 
 
 

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