Next Monday, December 16, at 8 pm ET our MyCP webinar will feature Molly Fuentes, MD, MS speaking about ableism in healthcare. The Center for Disability Rights defines ableism as “a set of beliefs or practices that devalue and discriminate against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities.” Dr. Fuentes will offer ideas for improving healthcare interactions between clinicians and people with disabilities as well as ways of facilitating empowering healthcare discussion and experiences. Dr. Fuentes is an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington and a pediatric physiatrist. Her clinical practice at Seattle Children’s Hospital includes serving as Medical Director of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.

This webinar will focus on ableism in healthcare and how medical professionals, institutions, examination protocols, and physical spaces can begin to shift to respect and address the needs of people with disabilities. Dr. Fuentes will include observations of ableism in pediatric healthcare from her own life experiences with her sister. We hope this webinar will open discussions among clinicians and community members and will be shared to provide insight to other people about ableism in healthcare and how to facilitate better experiences for people with disabilities.

Dr. Fuentes travels to Alaska six times a year for outreach clinic in Anchorage, including at the Alaska Native Medical Center. Her academic work focuses on Indigenous health, including Indigenous children with disabilities, culturally responsive rehabilitation services, health equity among children with disabilities, and bioethics within pediatric rehabilitation medicine practices.

The slides for the webinar can be accessed using the links below:

Click here to see Ableism in Health Care