Episode 69: Drs. Heather Feldner and Heather Evans

Description:

Today, we are joined by two guests and namesakes, Drs. Heather Feldner and Heather Evans, both from the University of Washington, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine . In their conversation with Dr. Pete Poullos, Dr. Evans and Dr. Feldner discuss their arrival to disability studies scholarship at the University of Washington, the curious and impactful forms that their work has taken as products of inter-departmental collaboration, and their visions for a medical education that is more cognizant of and that actively centers the dynamic, lived experiences of those with disabilities.

Interviewees: Drs. Heather Feldner and Heather Evans

Interviewer: Dr. Peter Poullos 

Producer: Nicole Kim 

Key words: medical education, physical disability, disability research, accommodations, chronic illness, mental health, crip theory

Bios: 

Dr. Feldner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, core faculty in the Disability Studies Program, and an Associate Director of the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) at the University of Washington.

Dr. Feldner's research is centered at the intersection of mobility, disability, and technology in two primary areas, including perceptions of disability and identity and how these emerge and evolve through technology use, and in the design and implementation of pediatric mobility technology, considering how attitudes and the built environment affect equity and participation. She also focuses on how disability can be further integrated into intersectional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, particularly in health professions education. Her current work incorporates multidisciplinary, mixed methods, and participatory approaches drawing from her background as a pediatric physical therapist, doctoral work in disability studies, and postdoctoral research in in mechanical engineering.

 Heather D. Evans is a socio-legal scholar who focuses on the ways in which institutions such as the law, higher education, and the medical field interact with marginalized populations. She has conducted statistical analyses, ethnographic fieldwork, and evaluation research. Heather’s current work is in the field of Critical Disability Studies examining disclosure, identity management, and workplace accommodations among people with physical, mental, and sensory differences that are not readily apparent. She is also committed to community based research and does consulting work for local social justice organizations, primarily focusing on disparities within the criminal justice system. Heather earned a Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Washington and teaches courses in the Department of Sociology; Disability Studies Program; and the Law, Societies & Justice Department at UW. She joined the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at UW in 2021 as an Acting Assistant Professor and Research Director for the Northwest ADA Center.

Transcript 

Resources: http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fresc.2022.947592/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Rehabilitation [journal.frontiersin.org]