08/19/2025
As part of our ongoing Summer Wednesdays series with our summer pathway students, the August 6 session explored the experiences of people with disabilities and how awareness, empathy, and accessibility shape equitable healthcare.
We began with an educational session entitled, Demystifying Disability, led by Tiffany Keith, MSW, Program Manager II, Office for Health Data, Outcomes and Engagement Strategy (HDOES), Mount Sinai Health System. Tiffany provided valuable insights into the realities and misconceptions that individuals with disabilities may face and the role we can play to promote accessibility.
The day continued with an immersive workshop, Understanding Disability in Medicine, led by Andrea Lendaris, MD, MS, Vascular Neurologist, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Co-Lead of the All Differing Abilities Partnering Together (ADAPT) Employee Resource Group.
During the workshop, interns were asked to put on equipment that altered one of their senses before taking on a group challenge: flipping a carpet completely over without stepping off of it. The exercise offered a hands-on glimpse into some of the barriers that people with disabilities face, while underscoring the importance of collaboration, patience, and creative problem-solving in care settings.
From insightful discussion to interactive learning, this session helped to deepen understanding and empathy.
