Institutional Accountability for Students With Disabilities: A Call for Liaison Committee on Medical Education Action

Authors

Lisa M. Meeks, L.M. Meeks is adjunct assistant professor of family medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, researcher, Center for a Diverse Healthcare Workforce, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, and associate professor of psychiatry, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, Colorado; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3647-3657 .
Erene Stergiopoulos, E. Stergiopoulos is a third-year resident, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8039-872X .
Kristina H. Petersen, K.H. Petersen is assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and assistant dean of academic support, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1944-6972 .

Author Type(s)

Faculty

Journal Title

Academic Medicine

First Page

341

Last Page

345

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2022

Department

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Abstract

Medical educators and leaders have called for greater diversity among the physician workforce, including those with disabilities. However, many students with disabilities are precluded from entering and completing medical training due to historically restrictive technical standards and poor internal practices to protect student privacy. This limits the possibilities for growing this part of the workforce and making progress toward the ultimate goal of having a physician workforce that better represents the patients it serves. To achieve diversity among the physician workforce, medical education must create environments that allow students with disabilities to apply to, flourish in, and feel well supported in medical school. Recent additions to Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requirements have helped to catalyze work in the area of disability inclusion by incorporating disability-focused mandates into graduate medical education accreditation standards. However, similar mandates for undergraduate medical education have not yet materialized. In this article, the authors call for the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) to elevate disability as a valued part of medical school diversity in its accreditation standards and to include protections for disabled students. The authors propose that the LCME can take 5 actions to promote institutional accountability toward students with disabilities: (1) define disability as diversity, (2) mandate disability support, (3) protect from conflicts of interest, (4) protect privacy, and (5) verify schools' technical standards comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. By adopting these recommendations, the LCME would send the powerful message that students with disabilities bring welcome expertise and value to the medical community.

Recommended Citation

Meeks, L. M., Stergiopoulos, E., & Petersen, K. H. (2022). Institutional Accountability for Students With Disabilities: A Call for Liaison Committee on Medical Education Action. Academic Medicine, 97 (3), 341-345. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000004471