Establishing a Deaf and American Sign Language Inclusive Residency Program

Abstract

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

New Pathways for Successfully Reducing Health Inequities Experienced by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community

“…Stories humanize conceptual ideas so that individuals can identify with the struggles faced by others, such as the challenges that many students with disabilities face in the pursuit of their career goals in the health professions. As a DHoH physician myself, my personal story navigating the medical education system helps to reinforce the ideas presented by the articles of Hill et al, Meeks et al, and Jacob et al 1–3…”

“…Instruction on allyship is essential and provides everyone with tools on how to speak up when wrongdoings occur. 1 As new physicians formulate their identities as healers, we must equip them (and senior faculty) with tools to prepare for these moments that still occur all too often.…”

“…It is important to share this personal story to show how the strategy outlined in Hill et al 1 could be applied to medical schools and residency programs to promote a culture of advocacy and inclusivity rather than simply a culture of nondiscrimination or even one that considers trainees with disabilities a burdensome cost. Not all students experience the level of institutional support I received, and some even resort to legal pathways to obtain the accommodations they need and are entitled to receive by law.…”

“…Not all students experience the level of institutional support I received, and some even resort to legal pathways to obtain the accommodations they need and are entitled to receive by law. 10,11 Moreover, Hill et al’s strategy 1 is flexible and can be applied to any number of health professions schools because the same framework can be used to help determine what each individual trainee’s accommodation needs are.…”

“…Three articles in this issue of Academic Medicine [1][2][3] serve as a welcome addition to the literature in the quest to reduce the significant health inequities experienced by the Deaf and hard of hearing (DHoH) community. Historically, research involving DHoH representation in the health professions and health inequities in the DHoH community has focused primarily on identifying barriers.…”