Informed Inclusion Model: Medical Student Wheelchair User in an Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Disability Studies
• Obstetrics and Gynecology

Background:

• Physical disability underrepresentation in medicine persists due to ableist assumptions.
• Lack of published case studies on accommodating wheelchair users in Ob/Gyn clerkships.
• Growing commitment to disability inclusion in medical training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe successful disability inclusion strategies for Ob/Gyn clerkships.
• To provide a case study of a wheelchair-using medical student's experience.
• To offer mechanisms for combating ableism and facilitating access.

Main Methods:

• Case study of a third-year medical student with osteogenesis imperfecta using a power wheelchair.
• Description of accommodations and collaborative approaches during a 4-week Ob/Gyn clerkship.
• Review of communication protocols and scheduling adjustments.

Main Results:

• The student successfully completed all Ob/Gyn clerkship requirements, including clinical core conditions and observation skills.
• Reasonable accommodations facilitated a thriving clinical experience.
• The experience serves as an exemplar for disability inclusion in medical training.

Conclusions:

• Accessible Ob/Gyn training environments can be created through collaboration, communication, and reasonable accommodations.
• Medical students who use wheelchairs can successfully meet clerkship expectations.
• Recommendations are transferable to other clerkships and medical training settings.