Episode 123: Evaluating Disability-Inclusive Content on U.S. Medical Schools' Websites—A National Study

Interviewees:
Ifeoma Ikedionwu, MD — Psychiatry and Internal Medicine Dual Intern, UT Southwestern
Dominique Cook — Fourth-Year Medical Student, University of South Florida

Interviewer:
Lisa Meeks, PhD, MA — Guest Editor, Academic Medicine Supplement on Disability Inclusion in Undergraduate Medical Education

Description:
In this episode of Stories Behind the Science, Dr. Lisa Meeks sits down with Dr. Ifeoma Ikedionwu and Dominique Cook, co-authors of the first national study examining how medical school websites communicate disability inclusion. Their paper, Evaluating Disability-Inclusive Content on U.S. Medical Schools' Websites: A National Study, is part of the Academic Medicine supplement on Disability Inclusion in Undergraduate Medical Education.

What do medical schools' digital front doors say about who belongs? The conversation explores how public-facing messages shape applicants' sense of access, belonging, and possibility—and why visibility is the first step toward equity. Ikedionwu and Cook share how their lived experiences as medical students with and without disabilities inspired a research project that merges advocacy, analysis, and systemic change.

Together, they unpack the challenges of quantifying inclusivity, the nuance of intersecting identities, and the powerful role of student-led research in shaping institutional accountability. The episode underscores how every mission statement, technical standard, and accessibility page sends a message—and how aligning those messages with institutional values can create a more inclusive path for future physicians.

Listeners will leave with actionable insights:

• Audit your institution's website for clarity, tone, and accessibility.

• Engage learners with lived experience in reviewing public materials.

• Translate inclusion from policy into practice—and from practice into visibility.

Because as Ikedionwu reminds us, "It's not enough to do the work—you have to share it, so others can find their way."

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UmiXVs8wESM28eRYAM-d13IuJTV6VzR2khagExHF12A/edit?usp=sharing

Resources:
Article from Today's Talk:
Ikedionwu I, Cook D, Kim N, Cotts J, Case B, Meeks LM. Evaluating Disability-Inclusive Content on U.S. Medical Schools' Websites: A National Study. Academic Medicine. 2025;100(10S):S60–S67. Read the full article here →

Related Reading:
Equal Access for Students with Disabilities: The Guide for Health Science and Professional Education (2nd Ed). Meeks LM, Jain NR, & Laird EP. Springer Publishing, 2020.

🎧 The Docs With Disabilities Podcast: https://www.docswithdisabilities.org/docswithpodcast

Key Words: Disability inclusion · Medical education · Admissions · Accessibility · Representation