Disability Health Education Initiative - At-A Glance Summary

Disability Health Education Initiative (DHEI)

At-a-Glance Summary

Our Mission

To equip physician assistants (PA) and health science students with the knowledge, confidence, and compassion to provide equitable, high-quality care for patients with disabilities.

Why It Matters

• 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. live with a disability.
• Patients with disabilities face significant health disparities and poorer outcomes.
• PA and health science programs often provide limited disability-specific training.
• DHEI bridges this gap by preparing students to serve one of the largest underserved patient populations.

Our Objectives

• Education: Develop and integrate disability-specific modules into PA curricula.
• Advocacy: Build awareness of health disparities and improve equity in care.
• Leadership: Empower students to lead in advancing disability-inclusive health care.
• Service: Connect volunteers with meaningful opportunities in outreach, research, and curriculum support.

Current Progress

• Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
• Memberships with AADMD and ADHCE.
• Leadership team in place:
  • Grant Coordinator
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Outreach Coordinator
  • Communications Coordinator

Opportunities for Students

• Flexible commitment:
• Activities include curriculum support, outreach, advocacy, and research.
• Open to all who have a heart for disability advocacy, curriculum development, education implementation, and/or have a heart to serve. No experience necessary.

Looking Ahead

• Expand engagement through structured volunteer recruitment.
• Pilot disability health education modules.
• Build a scalable framework for nationwide adoption in PA programs.

Get Involved / Support DHEI

Contact: Kendra Clark DMSc, PA-C, MPAS

Founder, Disability Health Education Initiative

Doctoral Student, ATSU