The UTMB Chapter of Medical Students with Disability and Chronic Illness (MSDCI) is a newly established, student-led initiative dedicated to building a more inclusive and accessible medical training environment while extending that impact to patients with chronic illness in our community.
Our work centers on creating both a supportive community for disabled medical students and advocacy beyond the classroom. Students with disabilities and chronic illness are often underrepresented and frequently navigate training in isolation. We aim to change that by establishing consistent spaces for connection, peer mentorship, and shared problem-solving, fostering a sense of belonging within a demanding training environment.
We are developing programming that connects lived experience with clinical practice. Through our “Beyond the Textbook” lecture series, physicians and advocates will discuss invisible illnesses, atypical disease presentations, diagnostic delays, and strategies for delivering more patient-centered care. These events encourage diagnostic humility while challenging assumptions about who belongs in medicine.
Beyond campus, MSDCI at UTMB is planning an Inclusive Medicine Initiative in partnership with the Life Skills Program at a local highschool. Medical student volunteers will lead interactive workshops that familiarize students with common healthcare experiences, including blood pressure measurements, stethoscopes, routine examinations, and communicating with healthcare providers. By creating positive, low-stress healthcare interactions, we hope to reduce anxiety, increase health literacy, and build confidence navigating future medical encounters.
As a new chapter without institutional funding, our immediate goal is to establish sustainable programming that supports both trainees and community members, while our long-term vision includes expanding into resource development and research on systemic barriers in healthcare.

What our grantee is saying: "Receiving this grant is a meaningful vote of confidence in our executive board and in the mission we're building through MSDCI at UTMB. This support will help us expand initiatives like Beyond the Textbook while developing future programs focused on accessibility, advocacy, and disability inclusion in medical education — including our Inclusive Medicine Initiative, designed to help combat white coat anxiety for high school students with disabilities. We are incredibly grateful for this investment in our work and excited about the impact it will have on our members and the communities we serve."