Disability Power Series Featuring Dr. Lisa Meeks and Our Members
Disabled perspectives matter in all spaces, including the biomedical workforce. Join us for a critical conversation on the importance of representation in healthcare featuring Dr. Lisa Meeks of Docs with Disabilities. Dr. Meeks will be joined by Disability Lead Members Katherine Vakil, Kruti Shah and Dr. Zoie Sheets as they share their journeys as disabled leaders, discuss the impact of the Docs with Disabilities Initiative and highlight how disabled representation is crucial for the future of inclusive healthcare.
Exclusive Members - Only Meet and Greet
Following the presentation, from 1:00-1:30 p.m. CT, there will be a Members-only Meet and Greet which will give Disability Lead Members an exclusive opportunity to connect with panelists in an intimate virtual setting. Members, please indicate in the form whether or not you’ll be joining us for the Meet and Greet session.
Meet The Speakers
Dr. Lisa Meeks
Lisa Meeks, PhD, is a Professor of Medical Education at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and a global leader in disability inclusion. As founder of the Docs with Disabilities Initiative, she has driven policy and practice advancements that reshape health professions education. Her research, published in journals like JAMA and Academic Medicine, focuses on equity and dismantling ableism in training. Dr. Meeks is deeply committed to creating inclusive environments where all trainees can thrive.
Katherine Vakil
Erie Family Health Centers, Pharmacy Services Manager
Fellow, 2022
Katherine Vakil is the Pharmacy Services Manager at Erie Family Health Centers. Katherine established a new Pharmacy Services team at Erie, which focuses on medication access for patients. Katherine received her Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota and Master of Public Health at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Kruti Shah
Oak Street Health, Pharmacist
Fellow, 2023
Kruti Parikh Shah, PharmD, is a Pharmacist for Oak Street Health. Previously she was a Clinical Operations Pharmacist at RUSH University Medical Center. In her role, she ensures safe and effective use of medications, provides collaborative drug therapy management, and offers excellent patient care. Being a woman of color and having a disability, she is passionate about Disability, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. During the pandemic, when medical masks became a barrier to lipreading, she advocated for clear masks to improve access to communication. She is a Public Voice Fellow with the OpEd Project and a steering committee member for the Disabilities Employee Resource Group (DERG) at RUSH. She volunteers as a mentor to high school students interested in allied health careers through the Bridges Mentorship Program with Rush Education and Career Hub (REACH).
She is an Indo-Canadian American, whose life has spanned over three countries. She was raised by a single mother who immigrated to Canada from India when Kruti was a teenager. Due to her strong desire and commitment to be of service to others who have been displaced, she serves on the board of RefugeeOne, the largest resettlement agency in Chicago.
She is a graduate of the University of Toronto (BSc) and the University at Buffalo (PharmD).
Dr. Zoie Sheets
The University of Chicago, Resident Physician
Member, 2024
Zoie C. Sheets is a resident physician in both internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Chicago. Her work focuses on the intersection of disability and medicine, promoting access and inclusion for both disabled physicians and patients. Living with a disability herself, she has witnessed the harm perpetuated by ableism in healthcare and believes that expanding the number of disabled doctors will improve outcomes for those with disabilities. Dr. Sheets is a Truman Scholar, has published in several leading medical journals and served on national panels, Chairs both the Trainee Advisory Committee and UME to GME Transitions Committee for the Docs With Disabilities initiative and frequently provides disability justice education for medical schools across the country.
