Lisa Meeks

Dr. Lisa Meeks is a Clinical Professor of Medical Education at the University of Illinois School of Medicine and the Founder and Co-Director of the Docs With Disabilities Initiative. As a recognized leader in medical education, she drives policy and best practices to advance disability inclusion in training and clinical practice.

As a person with lived experience of disability, Dr. Meeks is deeply committed to fostering access and equity for learners, clinicians, and patients—particularly those who experience multiple forms of marginalization. Her work promotes diversity, inclusion, and well-being within the healthcare workforce. She collaborates with leading health science and graduate programs, national organizations, and media outlets to elevate disability-related issues, offering expertise and guidance on inclusive education and practice. Through her co-created platforms and resources, she amplifies the voices of physicians and learners with disabilities, helping to shape the future of medical training.

Dr. Meeks is the editor and author of the field’s leading books, and also served as the guest editor of the October 2025 Academic Medicine supplement on disability inclusion. Her research has been published in leading medical journals and has been featured in major media outlets, including NPR, The Washington Post, CNBC, Bloomberg Law, and in Time Magazine. In 2025 she was named to the inaugural FORBES Accessibility 100 list.

As the lead author of the 2018 AAMC Special Report Accessibility, Inclusion, and Action in Medical Education: Lived Experiences of Learners and Physicians with Disabilities, Dr. Meeks is a key contributor to advancing systemic change. She also co-created the #DocsWithDisabilities social media campaign, co-hosts the Docs with Disabilities Podcast. 

Among her most valued contributions to academic medicine is her dedication to mentoring the next generation of disabled physicians and scientists, creating a community where they can thrive.