ACP Calls for Greater Disability Inclusion in Medical Workforce

The American College of Physicians (ACP) recently released 2 landmark position papers aimed at dismantling the "disability divide" within the United States healthcare system and medical education. These papers advocate for a fundamental shift in how the medical community perceives disability, viewing it as an essential dimension of diversity rather than a deficit.¹

Current data underscores a significant representational gap. While approximately 13% of the US population identifies as having a disability, only 3.1% of practicing physicians report one.²

“When we look at the practice of medicine, it is an art, it is a calling, it is something that we are drawn to as physicians and we should not allow barriers to qualified competent physicians to be able to practice,” said Jason Goldman, MD, president of the ACP.¹

Although disclosure rates are increasing among medical students (13%) and residents (12%), representation in the active workforce has remained stagnant. The ACP stated discrepancy is largely attributed to systemic barriers, including unnecessarily exclusionary technical standards, inconsistent accommodation practices, and a culture of ableism often discourages disclosure due to fear of stigma or professional repercussions.^2,3

To address these inequities, the ACP recommends hospitals, health systems, and training programs implement transparent, confidential, and timelyprocesses for requesting disability accommodations. Medical schools and graduate programs are urged to revise technical standards to ensure they are not needlessly exclusionary and are compliant with federal laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The ACP states fostering an inclusive environment requires intentional implementation strategies. These include anti-ableist training for faculty to recognize and interrupt biased assumptions, and the creation of peer communities or affinity groups to reduce isolation among disabled clinicians. To assist in these efforts, resources like the Disability Resource Hub offer practical toolkits for policy alignment.

The implications of these changes extend far beyond workforce equity. A physician workforce reflects the diversity of the patient population, inclusive of disability is a vital component of reducing longstanding healthcare disparities. Physicians with lived experience of disability often possess unique expertise improves communication, trust, and responsiveness to the needs of disabled patients, who frequently encounter structural barriers to quality care. By prioritizing these recommendations, the medical community can move toward a more equitable system where both disabled physicians and their patients are positioned to thrive.

For more information about the paper, please watch the above interview where we sat down with Goldman to discuss. We also had spoken to Goldman about disabilities with patients.

Goldman has no relevant disclosure to report.

References:

1. Cline K, Beachy MW, Carr PW, Hall J. Fostering support and inclusion for physicians, post-graduate trainees, and medical students with disabilities: a position paper from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2026. [Source: "Pasted Text"]
2. American College of Physicians. Improving the health of and access to health care for people with disabilities: a position paper from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2026. [Source: "Bridging the Disability Divide in Medical Care and Education"]
3. Editorial. Disability inclusion as equity in medicine. Ann Intern Med. 2026. [Source: "Disability Inclusion as Equity in Medicine"]