Dr. Julia Hanes (she/her) is a second-year resident in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of British Columbia. She completed her medical degree at the University of Ottawa and her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences at McMaster University. 

Throughout her academic pursuits Dr. Hanes has been a keen advocate for improved inclusion and accessibility. Dr. Hanes spearheaded a program to increase accessibility in the intramural sport and recreation program, which included a longitudinal sitting volleyball intramural program. While at medical school Dr. Hanes drafted and advocated for an accessibility policy for all of the Aesculapian Society events, which included all social events, orientation events and interest group activities. This accessibility policy has now been spread to several universities across the country and discussed at institutions across the US.  

Dr. Hanes is an active member of the Canadian Association of Physicians with Disabilities (CAPD). Through this group Dr. Hanes is leading a project to develop a national curriculum on disability. She has co-authored documents to help disabled student’s transition from undergraduate studies to medical school, from pre-clerkship to clerkship and clerkship to residency. 

As a disabled student herself navigating often inaccessible educational environments, Dr. Hanes has paved a pathway for students following her to tread through. Her self-advocacy efforts prompted the creation of curb cuts, push button installation, swapping of doorknobs to handles, height adjustable tables, and more.

Beyond her academic achievements, Dr. Hanes has done research in the field of childhood disability, including work to improve the quality of care and treatment of children and youth with disabilities and their families. Dr. Hanes is a passionate disability advocate and is eager to share how her experiences of ableism in medical education shapes her perspective and her advocacy efforts.