The Call is Coming from Inside the House: Racism and Ableism in US Medical Education

• In Event: Intersectional Pathways: BIPOC Resistance and Repair in Academic Spaces

Abstract

This study used dis/ability critical race theory (DisCrit) to examine how racism and ableism intersect in the experiences of racially marginalized disabled medical students. Twelve students (ages 24-29) were interviewed. Narrative and metaphor were used as analytical tools. Participants described entering medical school despite unwelcoming signals and becoming trapped in a "hall of mirrors" while fighting for accommodations and survival. Allies often perpetuated discriminatory practices—"the call was coming from inside the house." Despite facing systemic injustices, students formed protective "misfit squads" and created "apocalyptic logs" to document their existence and help future trainees. The research highlights counterstories that illuminate the horrifying intersection of racism and ableism in U.S. medical education, inviting readers to confront these uncomfortable realities.

Authors

• Hannah L. Kakara Anderson, Maastricht University

• Abigail W. Konopasky, Dartmouth College

• Justin Bullock, University of Washington

• Lisa Meeks, University of Illinois College of Medicine

• Neera R. Jain, The University of Auckland