DISABILITY HEALTH EDUCATION INITIATIVE

The Disability Health Education Initiative (DHEI) is committed to transforming the landscape of medical education by equipping future physician assistants (PAs) with the knowledge, skills, and empathy necessary to provide equitable, competent, and confident care to individuals with disabilities. Through evidence-based training, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration, DHEI fosters disability confidence and clinical excellence in PA programs nationwide. We aim to dismantle bias, cultivate emotional intelligence, and build inclusive healthcare systems that honor the dignity, autonomy, and diverse experiences of people with disabilities.

Join Us in Transforming Disability-Inclusive Healthcare—Volunteer with DHEI

Hello and welcome! My name is Kendra Clark, and I’m the founder of the Disability Health Education Initiative (DHEI)—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing equity and competence in disability-related health education, particularly within the training of physician assistants (PAs) and other clinical professionals.

DHEI was born from lived experience—my own and my family’s.

My 5-year-old brother, Guy, was flying a kite and was hit by a truck, sustaining a traumatic brain injury. Since that day, I’ve walked alongside him as a caregiver, advocate, and sister. I’ve witnessed, time and time again, how deep disparities in care—from rushed appointments to inaccessible facilities and uninformed providers—can make or break the health and dignity of disabled individuals. No fault of the provider, but a lack of training.

That early window into disability and healthcare inequity shaped everything I would later come to do.

I bring a “trifecta” perspective to this work:

• As a physician assistant, I’ve provided care across multiple settings, often seeing how underprepared clinicians are when it comes to treating patients with disabilities—clinically and interpersonally.
• As a lifelong caregiver, I’ve lived the emotional and logistical challenges faced by families trying to navigate a system that often overlooks or underestimates people with disabilities.
• And as someone who has a disability after a brain tumor diagnosis and neurosurgery, I’ve now lived inside the very system I once worked within. My brain tumor—whom I named Ruby—deepened my resolve to advocate for change.

These experiences became the catalyst for founding DHEI.

Our mission is clear—and deeply needed:

• Build disability confidence and competence in medical and PA education
• Embed disability-inclusive curricula into training programs
• Reduce bias and increase emotional intelligence among providers
• Equip educators and institutions with practical, sustainable tools for inclusive instruction

We’re now building a dedicated team of volunteers who want to make meaningful change. Whether you’re passionate about disability advocacy, curriculum development, communications, research, administration, or outreach, there’s a place for your skills and heart in this movement.

If you believe healthcare should be respectful and considerate for everyone, especially those with disabilities—join us. Your contribution could help shape the future of care.

Let’s build something better—together.

Warmly,

Kendra Clark, DMSc, PA-C, MPAS