Shaping Future Physicians: Premedical Students’ Views on Disability and its Impact on Medical Education
For over fifty years, federal disability civil rights laws have mandated that patients with disabilities receive
equitable health care, however, this has not been realized. Many physicians do not know disability law
and the rights disabled individuals have in health care settings. Despite the rising rate of diagnosis for some types of disability, there remains insufficient training for healthcare professionals to care for this underserved population, especially in adulthood. Training helps physicians and other healthcare workers understand the unique needs and challenges faced by disabled patients, fostering empathy and effective communication. Quality healthcare cannot be provided if physicians are not educated. The present study asks: what are pre-medical students’ attitudes and perspectives toward disabled individuals? Do pre-medical students’ attitudes and perspectives differ from other pre-health students?
Student researcher: Katelyn Horan, Biology, 2025, with assistance from RAs Noy Toledano & Abby Beardsley
Presentations: Neurodiversity and Disability Studies Summit, April 5, 2025
Perceptions of Stigma and Identity among College Students with Psychosocial Disability
We have wrapped data collection on a qualitative study on the experience of undergraduate students with psychosocial disability (also known as mental illness). The purpose of this study was to see how college students incorporate their diagnoses into their sense of identity and to understand how differing levels of stigma in a student’s environment influence the extent to which they adopt their diagnoses as part of their sense of self.
Student researchers: Elizabeth Kilgallon, Psychology, 2021; Sophie Hoffmann, Psychology, 2024
Presentations: Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, April 15, 2025
Attitudes toward the Value of College for Students with Intellectual Disability: Perspectives from Traditionally Enrolled Peers
Students with intellectual disability (ID) are attending college at higher rates than ever before. Through a variety of pathways, students with intellectual disability are experiencing the social, educational, and vocational benefits of higher education. To be successfully integrated into campus life, however, students must be welcomed by their traditionally enrolled peers in all aspects of campus life. We are currently analyzing survey and open-ended responses from traditionally enrolled students, both with and without disability, collected in 2017 and 2023.
Student researcher: Emily Achuck, Psychology, ‘2020.
Presentations: Gatlinburg Conference, 2024 (HTML, PPT).