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Kelsey Auman, MPH
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Medical Students with Disability and Chronic Illness (MSDCI) is a national, student-led organization dedicated to supporting aspiring and current medical students with a disability and/or chronic illness. Our mission is to create a more inclusive medical education environment, amplify disabled voices in medicine, and advocate for equitable access and support across all levels of training.
MSDCI provides direct peer support, educational resources, professional development, and national advocacy. Our efforts focus on building visibility, reducing stigma, and empowering our community through collaboration and lived experience. One of our most recent efforts has been our mentorship program, which is open to both pre-medical and current medical students.
We understand that aspiring and current medical students with chronic illness and/or disability often face unique challenges navigating medical education. MSDCI’s national mentorship program was created in response to the lack of structured support for our community.
Our free program matches premedical and medical students with mentors who share similar lived experiences. These mentor-mentee pairs meet at least three times during the program, which is currently offered three time per year (typically in the fall, winter, and spring). Conversations are flexible, mentee-driven, and may cover topics such as:
In addition to the formal program, we are continually working to expand informal and year-round opportunities for mentorship and community support. If someone has a time-sensitive question or need outside of the formal cycle, they are always welcome to email us at [email protected] and we will do our best to support them or direct them to someone who can.
Ultimately, our goal is to foster meaningful relationships, validate the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses, and support the success of disabled and chronically ill students in medicine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, over one in four US adults have some kind of disability. Learn how to provide respectful clinical care with Beyond the ICD code: How to better interact with patients with disabilities.
At the core of MSDCI are our local medical school chapters. We currently have more than 60 chapters across U.S. medical schools, with more being added. Our local chapters lead institution-specific programming, ranging from accessibility audits to speaker panels, advocacy workshops, and social events. These chapters also serve as points of connection for students navigating accommodations or seeking a sense of belonging. You can start an MSDCI chapter at your school with just one student and a faculty mentor. Find out more about how to start a chapter here.
We are proud collaborators with organizations such as:
MSDCI recognizes that systemic change is essential to creating a truly inclusive medical education system. In addition to providing direct support to students, we actively engage in policy and advocacy efforts at the local, institutional, and national levels.
We contribute student perspectives to advisory committees, collaborate on research and policy development, and advocate for reforms in areas such as disability disclosure, accessible clinical training, and inclusive admissions practices. Our members have participated in national conversations around the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Step exam accessibility, and equity in graduate medical education.
By partnering with leading organizations and amplifying lived experiences, MSDCI strives to shift institutional norms and ensure that medical education systems recognize and accommodate the full diversity of student needs.
If you’re a student with a disability or chronic illness, you are not alone. We see you. We support you. And we’re building a future where you can thrive — just as you are.
The post Supporting Medical Students with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses Through Advocacy and Mentorship appeared first on Student Doctor Network.
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Medical Students with Disability and Chronic Illness (MSDCI) is a national, student-led organization dedicated to supporting aspiring and current medical students with a disability and/or chronic illness. Our mission is to create a more inclusive medical education environment, amplify disabled voices in medicine, and advocate for equitable access and support across all levels of training.
MSDCI provides direct peer support, educational resources, professional development, and national advocacy. Our efforts focus on building visibility, reducing stigma, and empowering our community through collaboration and lived experience. One of our most recent efforts has been our mentorship program, which is open to both pre-medical and current medical students.
Program Spotlight: Mentorship Program
We understand that aspiring and current medical students with chronic illness and/or disability often face unique challenges navigating medical education. MSDCI’s national mentorship program was created in response to the lack of structured support for our community.
Our free program matches premedical and medical students with mentors who share similar lived experiences. These mentor-mentee pairs meet at least three times during the program, which is currently offered three time per year (typically in the fall, winter, and spring). Conversations are flexible, mentee-driven, and may cover topics such as:
- Navigating accommodations
- Applying to medical school or residency
- Studying for the MCAT or USMLE
- Mental health and burnout
- Disclosure strategies
- Clinical training and career planning
In addition to the formal program, we are continually working to expand informal and year-round opportunities for mentorship and community support. If someone has a time-sensitive question or need outside of the formal cycle, they are always welcome to email us at [email protected] and we will do our best to support them or direct them to someone who can.
Ultimately, our goal is to foster meaningful relationships, validate the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses, and support the success of disabled and chronically ill students in medicine.
Working With Patients with Disabilities
According to the Centers for Disease Control, over one in four US adults have some kind of disability. Learn how to provide respectful clinical care with Beyond the ICD code: How to better interact with patients with disabilities.
Chapter Network
At the core of MSDCI are our local medical school chapters. We currently have more than 60 chapters across U.S. medical schools, with more being added. Our local chapters lead institution-specific programming, ranging from accessibility audits to speaker panels, advocacy workshops, and social events. These chapters also serve as points of connection for students navigating accommodations or seeking a sense of belonging. You can start an MSDCI chapter at your school with just one student and a faculty mentor. Find out more about how to start a chapter here.
Community and Organizational Involvement
We are proud collaborators with organizations such as:
- American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) – Several MSDCI members have been selected as participants in the AAPD Summer Internship Program, advocating for disability rights on a national stage.
- Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) – We have partnered on webinars supporting medical students with disabilities, reaching hundreds of students, educators, and administrators.
- All In for Medical Education (AIM) Conference – MSDCI regularly participates in this national event focused on equity in medical education, where we advocate for disability as a core pillar of diversity.
- Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) – MSDCI collaborates with LMSA to uplift Latinx voices in medicine and advocate for intersectional inclusion. We have co-hosted events addressing the experiences of disabled Latinx medical students and worked together to promote culturally competent care that includes disability awareness.
- Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) – In partnership with APAMSA, MSDCI advances disability advocacy within Asian and Pacific Islander communities in medicine. Our collaborations have included joint programming on disability identity, stigma, and access to culturally informed support systems for AAPI medical students.
- Docs With Disabilities Initiative (DWDI) – MSDCI partners with the DWDI to promote research, education, and advocacy focused on individuals with disabilities in the health professions. Together, we work to dismantle ableism in medicine and elevate disabled voices in academic and clinical spaces.
- Student Medical Alliance for Disability Inclusion and Equity (SMADIE) – MSDCI and SMADIE collaborate to amplify student-led disability advocacy and share resources to support disabled learners in medical education
- Disabled and Medically Marginalized in Medical Mentorship Program (DM3P) – Through our partnership with DM3P, MSDCI supports mentorship initiatives that center the lived experiences of disabled and chronically ill medical students and trainees.
Policy and Advocacy
MSDCI recognizes that systemic change is essential to creating a truly inclusive medical education system. In addition to providing direct support to students, we actively engage in policy and advocacy efforts at the local, institutional, and national levels.
We contribute student perspectives to advisory committees, collaborate on research and policy development, and advocate for reforms in areas such as disability disclosure, accessible clinical training, and inclusive admissions practices. Our members have participated in national conversations around the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Step exam accessibility, and equity in graduate medical education.
By partnering with leading organizations and amplifying lived experiences, MSDCI strives to shift institutional norms and ensure that medical education systems recognize and accommodate the full diversity of student needs.
Resources and How to Get Involved
- Website: www.msdci.org
- Email us: [email protected]
- Join Our Groupme
- Follow us @MSDCINational on twitter/X and instagram
- Upcoming Events Calendar
- MSDCI National Community Resource Guide
If you’re a student with a disability or chronic illness, you are not alone. We see you. We support you. And we’re building a future where you can thrive — just as you are.
The post Supporting Medical Students with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses Through Advocacy and Mentorship appeared first on Student Doctor Network.
Continue reading...
