Dean's Distinguished Lecture: Professor Lisa Meeks

"From Access to Thriving: Supporting Disabled Learners and Physicians in Medicine"

The number of medical students with disabilities is rising significantly worldwide, reflecting both broader access to higher education and growing recognition of disability as an important dimension of diversity within the health professions workforce.

At the same time, international research shows that learners with disabilities experience similar barriers across countries including structural challenges in training environments and inconsistent accommodation practices.

In response, international medical associations, including the GMC, are developing guidance to support access and inclusion for disabled learners and physicians. Yet the research also makes clear that access alone is not enough. Many learners and physicians do not request accommodations or disclose disability because of concerns about bias, stigma, or potential career consequences.

Supporting disabled learners and physicians to truly thrive requires looking beyond accommodation processes to the broader training environment—addressing culture and climate, fostering psychological safety, confronting ableism, and implementing universal design approaches that reduce barriers to participation and disclosure.

Professor Lisa M Meeks

Professor Lisa M Meeks, PhD, MA, is Clinical Professor in the Department of Medical Education at the University of Illinois College of Medicine

Lisa Meeks, PhD, is a Professor of Medical Education at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and a global leader in disability inclusion. As founder of the Docs with Disabilities Initiative, she has driven policy and practice advancements that reshape health professions education. Her research, published in journals like JAMA and Academic Medicine, focuses on equity and dismantling ableism in training. Dr Meeks is deeply committed to creating inclusive environments where all trainees can thrive.

Event Details

Monday 18 May 2026
12.00pm - 1.00pm
The IBRB Lecture Theatre, Gibbet Hill, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL

Parking

There is ample parking on main campus, which is a brisk 10 minute walk from the Medical School. Information on where to park and paying for parking can be found here.