Rotation years possible in a wheelchair?

BU Medical Sciences
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Medical schools have widely-varying policies/expectations for completion of certain physical skills needed to graduate. The degree to which schools are willing to accomodate you also varies. There are med schools that have accepted a quadriplegic (just last year, an SDNer got in), a deaf student, a blind student, etc. I personally know a pediatric specialist with severe cerebral palsy and difficult-to-understand speech who followed his dream and got through all the training somehow.

If you have all the usual requirements/ECs/stats, there is a school out there for you.

For some school-specific policies, interesting stories, and general discussion of handicapped applicants (positive and negative, so brace yourself), see: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=529637&highlight=quadriplegic
 
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Catalystik said:
Medical schools have widely-varying policies/expectations for completion of certain physical skills needed to graduate. The degree to which schools are willing to accomodate you also varies. There are med schools that have accepted a quadriplegic (just last year, an SDNer got in), a deaf student, a blind student, etc. I personally know a pediatric specialist with severe cerebral palsy and difficult-to-understand speech who followed his dream and got through all the training somehow.

If you have all the usual requirements/ECs/stats, there is a school out there for you.

For some school-specific policies, interesting stories, and general discussion of handicapped applicants (positive and negative, so brace yourself), see: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=529637&highlight=quadriplegic
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While this sounds quite inspiring, I recall recently reading just the opposite, although I cannot quite recall the source. It may have been a post by a resident or med student (wasn't a premed, I remember that much) but I recall someone saying they knew of at least one student being told by multiple med schools just how much they'd love her but that due to her limited movement, it simply was not feasible for her to attempt med school, much less a career in medicine. They apparently said she would not even be able to participate in Anatomy as an MS1, much less get through medical school and residency. You should probably contact individual schools and find out what they think before committing to med school prereqs, the MCAT, applications, etc. Get the opinion of some actual physicians as well. Being confined to a wheelchair would make clinical medicine difficult, I'd expect, although certainly not impossible. Medical research, it would seem, might be the easier way to go for someone with limited mobility. Good luck! Is this a degenerative disease, btw? By your OP it sounds like this is something you expect will get worse over your lifetime. That is certainly something to consider as well....
 
I would contact schools which you are interested in and ask if they would be willing to accept applications from someone with your condition. Once you have that information, you can decide if you want to pursue medical school, or if you think it is too much of a long shot.
 
I forget her name...but look at the woman in the little couple on TLC. Dwarf resident physician and she has some limitations but gets the job done.
 
willen101383 said:
beat you by .2 seconds!
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Agh, I was trying to decide if I wanted to add anything else and I was trying to find a good site to refer people to. Oh well, I hope it helps the OP in some way!
 
cicatrez879 said:
Hi,

Do you know of any medical students in their third or fourth year/residents that are confined to a wheelchair? I have a physical disability, and despite the fact that I can walk (read: limp) right now, I'm afraid I might be confined to a wheelchair in the future. To tell you the truth, I'm terrified. Have you seen it done, especially during the surgery rotations?
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I would ask the admissions departments at a number of different schools before spending the time and money applying. You are definitely a special case and, depending on what you are interested in, they may be willing to accommodate you (EM and Surgery are probably out, but that doesn't mean you can't be great elsewhere).
 
I believe that all schools are required to have a "technical standards" outline for all students.

Here is my schools Physical Requirements Section:

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS​

​

: After reasonable training and experience, the candidate must be capable of performing anatomic dissections of the human cadaver; be able to observe demonstrations and be capable of performing experiments to include, but not be limited to, operations on living animals (in courses such as Physiology); be capable of the study of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states including the manipulations (i.e., streaking a bacterial plate and transferring bacteria from one test to another in an aseptic manner) necessary for such studies. Observation of gross and microscopic structures necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision and touch and is enhanced by the functional sense of smell.​


After reasonable training and experience, the candidate must be capable of performing a complete physical examination, including observation, palpation and percussion and auscultation. The candidate must be capable of using instruments, such as but not limited to, a stethoscope, an ophthalmoscope, an otoscope, and a sphygmomanometer. The candidate must be capable of performing clinical procedures such as, but not limited to, the following: pelvic examination, digital rectal examination, drawing blood from veins and arteries and giving intravenous injections, basic cardiopulmonary life support, spinal puncture, and simple obstetrical procedures. The candidate must be capable of performing basic laboratory tests, using a calculator and a computer, reading an EKG, and interpreting some common imaging tests. The candidate must be able to move in the clinical setting so as to act quickly in emergencies.​

​

And this is what they say at the end:
​

The **[school]** does not discriminate against otherwise qualified individuals who apply for admission to the M.D. degree program or who are enrolled as medical students. The designated disabilities coordinator with regard to applicants with disabilities is the Director of Admissions. The designated disabilities coordinator for enrolled medical students with disabilities is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
​
It is a sticky situation for a medical school to deny admission based on a physical disability (Americans with Disabilities Act). Not to prematurely relegate you to a specialty, but consider the profession of a radiologist or pathologist. Even in the worst case scenario if you were to lose your mobility to a wheel chair, you could still perform each of those specialties as well as the next (since the residency isn't highly dependent on mobility, compared to surgery or emergency medicine for example). The caveat is that medical schools aren't required to disclose why they reject an applicant, so you'll never know if it was your disability or your application.​

You have to consider the physical demands of medical school, internship, and then residency (which varies greatly according to specialty), and decide if it is something that you would be able and willing to accomplish.​

To finally answer your question, I have known doctors who have survived medical school in a wheelchair.​

-senior medical student / admissions committee interviewer​
 
I believe you can do it - but it is up to how you feel about your body and what you can handle. I myself have quite a few health problems I have battled but I've finally made it to medical school (well accepted at least) so I am definitely pulling for you!
 
Thank you for the info, and unbiased answers.

Yes, I have a degenerative condition that is expected to get worse with time. I have made so many personal sacrifices for my my GPA, strong MCAT, and extracurriculars, only to end up getting this degenerative disease. It is in the early stages, with a moderate recovery rate. Some doctors say I'll get better, others are not so optimistic. Nonetheless, I decided long ago that medicine IS my future, I just wanted to find a way to make it possible.

One key thing: This disability only applies to my feet, and the ability to stand up. I still have 100% fine motor function in my hands, unlike that poor paraplegic. I would personally think that I wouldn't be grouped into a general "disabled" category like being blind or losing control of all my limbs, but who knows.

If I have to limit myself to a "thinking" specialty like psychiatry or radiology than that is ok, because my original plan was to become a psychiatrist anyway. The main obstacle then is not disability in my everyday practice down the road, but how my disability may make it harder to get through med school and get my MD.
 
cicatrez879 said:
Thank you for the info, and unbiased answers.

Yes, I have a degenerative condition that is expected to get worse with time. I have made so many personal sacrifices for my my GPA, strong MCAT, and extracurriculars, only to end up getting this degenerative disease. It is in the early stages, with a moderate recovery rate. Some doctors say I'll get better, others are not so optimistic. Nonetheless, I decided long ago that medicine IS my future, I just wanted to find a way to make it possible.

One key thing: This disability only applies to my feet, and the ability to stand up. I still have 100% fine motor function in my hands, unlike that poor paraplegic. I would personally think that I wouldn't be grouped into a general "disabled" category like being blind or losing control of all my limbs, but who knows.

If I have to limit myself to a "thinking" specialty like psychiatry or radiology than that is ok, because my original plan was to become a psychiatrist anyway. The main obstacle then is not disability in my everyday practice down the road, but how my disability may make it harder to get through med school and get my MD.
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If it's only your feet, I'd expect you would be fine. You just have to convince an adcom of that. Perhaps a letter from your own physician detailing the disease and its expected progression (w/ a hint of optimism of course) to help alleviate any fears.
 
cicatrez879 said:
Thank you for the info, and unbiased answers.

Yes, I have a degenerative condition that is expected to get worse with time. I have made so many personal sacrifices for my my GPA, strong MCAT, and extracurriculars, only to end up getting this degenerative disease. It is in the early stages, with a moderate recovery rate. Some doctors say I'll get better, others are not so optimistic. Nonetheless, I decided long ago that medicine IS my future, I just wanted to find a way to make it possible.

One key thing: This disability only applies to my feet, and the ability to stand up. I still have 100% fine motor function in my hands, unlike that poor paraplegic. I would personally think that I wouldn't be grouped into a general "disabled" category like being blind or losing control of all my limbs, but who knows.

If I have to limit myself to a "thinking" specialty like psychiatry or radiology than that is ok, because my original plan was to become a psychiatrist anyway. The main obstacle then is not disability in my everyday practice down the road, but how my disability may make it harder to get through med school and get my MD.
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-People have definitely gone through medical school in a wheelchair. Also, wanted to tell you that one girl from my dorms is doing medicine and she has multiple sclerosis! Not sure how that's going to work out but I definitely admire her! Maybe she will also focus on more of a "thinking" specialty than one that requires physical work.
 
Medgirl55 said:
-People have definitely gone through medical school in a wheelchair. Also, wanted to tell you that one girl from my dorms is doing medicine and she has multiple sclerosis! Not sure how that's going to work out but I definitely admire her! Maybe she will also focus on more of a "thinking" specialty than one that requires physical work.
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She's from your dorms (presumably an UG) but "doing medicine." What does that even mean?! :scared:

I presume you mean she is a pre-med. That's awesome she is pursuing medicine, although if she hasn't gotten in yet and is not yet a medical student, I am unsure how that is evidence of someone with a degenerative disease succeeding in medical school. Anyway, that's awesome. I hope she and the OP are both successful in the endeavors! Best of luck to both of you!
 
When and where would an applicant even disclose this information to med schools? There is nothing on the AMCAS for self reporting, or at least I don't remember reading it.

My advice: don't mention it in your apps - and for sure don't write about it in your PS - don't give someone a reason to toss your app into the round file along with 95 percent of the apps they get.

In other words, cross this bridge when you get to it. That may happen at an interview, or it may happen after you get accepted.
 
There is a neurologist at Vanderbilt, actually chairs there vascular neurology department, who is confined to a wheelchair.

I'm not sure of his circumstances but he obviously has excelled in medicine despite his personal adversity.
 
Rickybobby said:
There is a neurologist at Vanderbilt, actually chairs there vascular neurology department, who is confined to a wheelchair.

I'm not sure of his circumstances but he obviously has excelled in medicine despite his personal adversity.
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Very interesting. That would be another possible residency option down the road.
 
Maybe you can find a school that is willing to work with you, but one of my classmates got into an accident that has them in a wheelchair for the next month and a half. Because of that they are going to have to do Gross Anatomy over the summer when they are on their feet again because they are unable to continue now.

I'd definitely talk to schools now, and see if any of them are even open to the possibility (don't try to hide it from them, that's just silly, do you think they aren't going to notice at some point?). It would suck to go through everything only to find that you've applied to schools that are unwilling to work with you. Not to be a spoilsport, but there is a big difference between going through med school in a wheelchair and becoming wheelchair bound afterward.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but I would start talking to schools now just so you are informed and know what your options are. Everyone here is going to "know someone who...". this is something I would really talk to schools about.
 
apumic said:
While this sounds quite inspiring, I recall recently reading just the opposite, although I cannot quite recall the source. It may have been a post by a resident or med student (wasn't a premed, I remember that much) but I recall someone saying they knew of at least one student being told by multiple med schools just how much they'd love her but that due to her limited movement, it simply was not feasible for her to attempt med school, much less a career in medicine. They apparently said she would not even be able to participate in Anatomy as an MS1, much less get through medical school and residency. You should probably contact individual schools and find out what they think before committing to med school prereqs, the MCAT, applications, etc. Get the opinion of some actual physicians as well. Being confined to a wheelchair would make clinical medicine difficult, I'd expect, although certainly not impossible. Medical research, it would seem, might be the easier way to go for someone with limited mobility. Good luck! Is this a degenerative disease, btw? By your OP it sounds like this is something you expect will get worse over your lifetime. That is certainly something to consider as well....
Click to expand...

I think you may be referring to a previous post of mine, unless someone else posted about a friend in this situation. It's different than the OP's situation. She is already quadriplegic, and has very limited use of her arms. She consulted with a few medical schools, including the one at our university. The main problem with her acceptance is that she definitely can't fulfill the physical requirements of medical school, beginning with anatomy lab.

To the OP--every situation is different, so you need to do some research. It sounds like your mobility is not very limited yet, so there may be options for you, even if your condition worsens. Like everyone else said, definitely talk to med schools, physicians, and anyone who can provide more insight into your specific situation.

As someone else here suggested, I'd be willing to bet that there are some schools that are more adept than others at accommodating students with disabilities.
 
This thread makes me think of the OP doing some sick rotations and tricks in a wheelchair.
 
rowerontheriver said:
I'm not saying it's impossible, but I would start talking to schools now just so you are informed and know what your options are. Everyone here is going to "know someone who...". this is something I would really talk to schools about.
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Agreed. Start making anonymous calls to admissions offices and see what they tell you.
 
I just want to chime in and say that one of the house physicians in the hospital where I work I believe had polio as a child and now walks with crutches. He gets around, albeit slowly, but he manages it.

Good luck to you.
 
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