Interviewee: Dr. Diana Cejas

Interviewer: Dr. Lisa Meeks

Description:

In this conversation, Diana Cejas, a pediatric neurologist, shares her experiences as a disabled Black woman in medicine. She discusses her journey as a cancer and stroke survivor and the challenges she faced in getting her concerns taken seriously by healthcare professionals. Diana also highlights the impact of race and ableism in medicine and the need for greater recognition and support for marginalized individuals. She shares her experiences of returning to residency after a stroke and the mixed responses she received from colleagues. The conversation also explores the concept of benevolent ableism and its impact on disabled individuals. In this conversation, Lisa Meeks and Diana Cejas discuss the importance of disrupting ableism and advocating for inclusion in medical education and practice. They highlight the need for individuals to use their power and privilege to create change and challenge ableist attitudes and practices. They also explore the healing power of writing and how it can be a tool for communication and education. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the importance of believing in oneself and finding a supportive community.

Bio:

Diana M. Cejas, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and faculty of the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. Her clinical work, research, and advocacy focus upon understanding the effects of ableism on health and improving care delivery and outcomes for children and young adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Dr. Cejas has also devoted much of her career to patient advocacy and improving communication between healthcare providers and the disability community, particularly young disabled patients of color. Dr. Cejas shares her own story and other commentary on disability and health via essays and other nonfiction. She is a 2023 PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship Finalist and a 2021 Pushcart Prize nominee. Her literary work has appeared in high impact medical journals, prestigious literary magazines, anthologies, and popular media.

Key Words: Abelism, Racism, Developmental Disabilities, Stroke, Cancer, Residency, Medical School, ICU, writing, narrative medicine.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_-ZwCZvxwfuSMLHvv0aDxhox35LvDkPM9pYGCZTjGTo/edit?usp=sharing

Produced by: Kadesha Treco, Jacob Feeman and Dr. Lisa Meeks.

Audio editor: Jacob Feeman

Digital Media: Katie Sullivan

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