Did you know? As of 2019, only 4.6% of U.S. medical students have disclosed some kind of disability to their medical school, which compares to the 25% of adults in the U.S. who have some form of disability according to the CDC. As an IBD patient advocate, my goal has been to normalize asking for help when we need it so that we can grow both personally and in our careers, as we all deserve the support. I recognize that there is stigma and even concerns around ableism preventing folks like me from disclosing our conditions and obtaining proper resources at medical school, and I hope this post helps to normalize that. Being a part of Team SAIA, I have had the honor of bringing together my medical school experiences and experiences in clinical research to help others who would like to pursue medical careers. Now that I’m starting my third year of medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, I wanted to share some insights that I’ve gathered from my journey thus far.
🩺I am blessed to have found support from my medical school in the following ways:
- It’s important to consider setting up accommodations for both school-based examinations and standardized testing for licensing (USMLE Step 1/2, NBME). Ideally, one should begin the process 9 months prior to the anticipated test date. Below are some resources:
NBME Accommodation Instructions
General Accommodations Timeline
2. It’s a good idea to maintain relationships to feel better supported. Remember, you are not alone in this journey and building trusting relationships with mentors and professors will allow you to feel more supported and less alone. Whether the challenges stem from your health or academics, community is vital as you navigate the journey of medical school.
3. Finding in-person and virtual support groups, organizations and resources for people living with IBD has helped me feel less alone in my journey. Some organizations and resources that have been immensely impactful in supporting me throughout medical school would include:
- SAIA’s Higher Education Patient Education Livestream
- SAIA’s IBDesis Community for peer support
- Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Support Groups
- Own Your Crohn’s Blog Post on going back to graduate school
- Improve Care Now’s College Toolkit
Medical school can be a challenging journey for students especially for those living with IBD. As an aspiring healthcare provider, I hope to be able to play a key role in leveraging better supports and resources for those living with visible and non-visible illnesses to be able to live fulfilling lives and contributing to a more equitable society. Let’s break the stigma together!