The Critical Nature of Belonging in Academic Medicine for Medical Students With Disabilities

Medical students with disabilities (MSWD) report higher rates of distress and burnout when compared to their non-disabled peers as they navigate the challenges of medical education. However, cultivating a sense of belonging and creating safe spaces in which there is acceptance of the authentic self have been associated with improvements in these outcomes. This commentary explores the role of student-led disability organizations in promoting belonging through the development of community, offering mentorship, creating opportunities for leadership, sharing resources, and advancing anti-ableism. While these organizations are a powerful tool to advance inclusion, institutional accountability also remains critical. The authors offer strategies in which institutions can partner with MSWDs to further promote inclusion. These include (1) collecting accurate and comprehensive data on the experiences of MSWDs, (2) reviewing and reforming policies that exclude or disadvantage MSWDs, and (3) supporting student-led disability organizations.