Dennis P. McKenna, MD President and Chief Executive Officer | Albany Medical Health System
Dennis P. McKenna, MD President and Chief Executive Officer | Albany Medical Health System
As second-year medical students at Albany Medical College, Baylee Kennedy and Kimberly Lipton have been studying neuroscience and the nervous system. They had read about clonus but never seen it firsthand until they met Riley Barker, a 28-year-old with cerebral palsy. Barker shared his experiences with them, demonstrating clonus when they applied pressure to his foot.
"We saw clonus," said Lipton. "It's amazing to see this in-person after learning about it in dry, clinical reading."
Barker was one of four disability self-advocates participating in a program at the Patient Safety and Clinical Competency Center at Albany Medical College. The initiative is led by Dr. Jennifer Earle Miller, who has involved 20 patients with disabilities to share their experiences with medical students as part of a curriculum supported by a grant from the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry.
"Students have had really rich interactions with actors portraying patients, but this brings the opportunity to engage with actual patients with actual complaints," stated Dr. Miller. "It also allows for appreciating the patient story and giving that a platform in medical school."
Prior to meeting the advocates, students reviewed ADEPT-CARE, a protocol tool designed for comprehensive history and physical exams for patients with disabilities. This framework emphasizes accessibility and addressing disability-related conditions.
Dr. Miller also educated students on wheelchair parts and settings for optimal patient examination, assisted by Michele Dollar, an RN with multiple sclerosis who demonstrated in her electric-powered chair.
"It is important to be respectful and defer to the patient—they are the experts on their bodies and their condition," emphasized Dr. Miller.
The curriculum includes learning about adaptive equipment use and lift techniques to better understand patient experiences. Students also explore behavioral and developmental disabilities.
Albany Medical College's curriculum uniquely incorporates self-advocates into its disability education program. Dr. Miller hopes students will draw upon these experiences in future patient interactions.
Between sessions, Kennedy questioned how ADA-compliant spaces could improve for wheelchair users, while Lipton found the training invaluable for her future career as an obstetrician.
Alerts Sign-up