AMA advancing equity for doctors and medical students with disability
The AMA hosted an important webinar that explored ways to support doctors and medical students with disability pursue a career in medicine.
Ways to support doctors and medical students with disability pursue a career in medicine were explored at a webinar hosted by the AMA on Tuesday night.
The webinar followed the release of the AMA’s position statement on supporting doctors and medical students with disability, which outlines essential measures to create inclusive training and work environments.
Panel members shared their frank experiences and insights about what is needed to embrace inclusivity and reduce discrimination in the medical sector.
A common theme was the need for attitudinal change to create a safe environment for people with disability to explore and pursue a career in medicine.
Fundamental to this is adopting a strengths-based approach, focusing on abilities, knowledge and capacities, rather than deficits, to provide opportunities for people with disability to study and practice medicine.
The AMA will work on promoting the key themes discussed during the webinar and will share more in the coming weeks.
Watch a replay of the webinar (closed captions are available in the bottom right-hand corner of the video)
Separately, medical students with disability are being encouraged to participate in a University of Notre Dame Australia study assessing the challenges they face throughout their medical education.
Responses are confidential and anonymous.
The AMA notes Australian research is key to understanding the prevalence of disabilities among doctors, medical students and other health professionals, and the primary barriers to work and study that they face each day.
Participate in the University of Notre Dame study