About us
The Disability Inclusive Health Professions Education Alliance ANZ (DIHPEA) was established to support a more inclusive future for health professions education. We bring together educators, researchers, clinicians, professional staff and leaders with diverse experiences and expertise in disability inclusion, education, scholarship and leadership
Our collective knowledge spans research, curriculum and assessment design, clinical education, student support, policy and organisational change. Together, we work to challenge barriers, promote equity and support the participation and success of people with disability in health professions education.
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Laura Gray is the Director of the Drapac Centre for Equity in Health Professions Education and an Associate Professor with the School of Medicine, Deakin University.
She leads programs of research, evaluation, strategy and policy design and implementation, with a focus on equity and inclusion. With extensive experience in higher education leadership, she is committed to advancing equitable access to higher education and programmes to enable all students to thrive.
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Bryony McNeill is a Senior Lecturer in Medical Physiology and Deputy Course Director (Foundations of Medicine) of the Deakin University Doctor of Medicine program.
In this role, she is committed to improving access to medical study and fostering inclusive, accessible learning environments. Her medical education research uses a co‑design approach with students and focuses on understanding the experiences of neurodivergent medical and health students, particularly within clinical learning contexts.
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Lise Mogensen is Associate Professor in Medical Education and Director of Learning and Teaching at the Western Sydney University School of Medicine. She is an award-winning researcher and research educator, and the creator of the micro-credential Disability Access and Participation in Health Education and Work.
Lise specialises in participatory research and co-design methodologies, with a strong focus on translation to policy and practice. Her extensive national and international collaborations spans child wellbeing, critical disability studies, and medical education. In the past decade, she has led influential research aimed at advancing disability access and participation in medical and health professional education, helping to shape policy and practice in Australia.
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Dr Neera Jain is a senior lecturer at the Centre for Medical and Health Sciences Education, Waipapa Taumata Rau – The University of Auckland in Aotearoa/NZ.
A former disability resources professional specialised in health professions education, she has been a leader in community-building and practice development in this area for the United States. Her research programme is focused on anti-ableism in health professions education, research, and practice.
She brings her own lived experience of mental health concerns to her work. With gratitude and reverence, he also carries the stories of students, health professionals, educators, activists, scholars, friends, and family who have shaped her perspective and practice.
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Gisselle is a senior lecture at the School of Medicine at the University of Notre Dame Australia and a Centre for Disability Research and Policy, The University of Sydney affiliate.
She is a clinician, health professional educator, disability researcher and advocate. Her research and teaching focus on the experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse people and those living with disability, as well as the intersection of these. Her research has a strong focus on accessibility and inclusion across the spectrum of health and higher education for people with disability.
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Louisa Ng is a senior clinician-academic and rehabilitation physician whose academic work spans the University of Melbourne’s graduate-entry Doctor of Medicine (MD) program, the Royal Melbourne Hospital Clinical School and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
She is the Subject Coordinator for final year MD subjects Transition to Practice and Clinical Scholar, the latter of which she designed from inception and is focused on student choice, innovation, advocacy, and leadership. She has a long-standing commitment to equitable student support and disability inclusion.
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Dr Eeman Shahzad is an Emergency Medicine Senior Resident Medical Officer and Researcher at Western Sydney University.
Her work focuses on disability inclusion in medical school admissions and education, with a commitment to translating evidence into meaningful policy change and building a more equitable medical workforce.
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Paul (he/him) is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, as well as the Associate Dean for Student Matters at the UWA Medical School.
In his university role, he coordinates professional development, wellbeing, and mentoring programs for medical students. Paul’s research interests focus on medical (and medical student) professionalism, patient safety and student wellbeing.
If Paul had a fairy godmother, he would like one of his wishes to be to dispel all the rumours and fears related to health professionals and students being concerned about disclosing struggles with their mental health.