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Medical Student
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of PM&R
Simran Prakash is an M.D./M.P.H. candidate at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine dedicated to advancing disability-inclusive healthcare through patient care, research, and advocacy. She graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in Disability Representation through Media, where she co-founded and co-led the Duke Disability Alliance (DDA). At Duke, she launched the university’s first Disability Cultural Center, organized annual Disability Pride Weeks, and advocated for systemic changes such as the addition of American Sign Language to the curriculum. At UMMSM, she co-founded Miller’s Disability Alliance, the school’s first comprehensive disability-focused student organization, and serves as the inaugural Disability Justice Chair for the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Nationally, she is Co-Director of Education for Medical Students with Disability & Chronic Illness (MSDCI) and serves as a Medical Student Ambassador to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR). Her research spans cardiometabolic health in spinal cord injury, disability representation in medical curricula, and public health interventions to improve access to nutrition and exercise for persons with disabilities. She has presented her work at AUCD, AACPDM, ADHCE, and will be presenting at ISPRM, with manuscripts in preparation for peer-reviewed publication. Her career goal is to become a physiatrist specializing in inpatient rehabilitation, combining her clinical training with advocacy, research, and curriculum development to build healthcare systems that are inclusive, equitable, and empowering for people with disabilities.
