“It would be nice if lecturers and staff had a little bit of a talk about neurodiversity”: neurodivergent medical student experiences

Introduction
Increasing numbers of students are identifying as being neurodivergent.1 Yet there is limited evidence of the experiences of neurodivergent students.2 The aims of our research were to explore the experiences of neurodivergent medical students. Ethical approval was granted.

Methods
This is an interpretative phenomenological study that employs Goffman’s3 dramaturgical theory of social life as a theatrical performance, to explore backstage and front stage strategies used by neurodivergent students in managing others’ impression of them. The study is being conducted by a medical student. Undergraduate medical students at Queen’s University Belfast were recruited by e-mail for an individual interview. Data collection will be completed by June 2025.

Outcomes
To date, interviews with five students (4 women and 1 man), at varying stages of diagnosis for autism and ADHD, reveal the exhausting preparatory work backstage for them to be able to function in class and on clinical placement. The masking of neurodivergent traits front stage impair ability to concentrate. Neurodivergent students feel invisible by a taught curriculum which promotes a deficit model, by the absence of tailored assessment supports, and fear of stigma by disclosing. They feel isolated from their peers which negatively impacts OSCE preparation and experiences on clinical placement. Neurodivergent students describe themselves as empathetic, resilient and problem-solvers, key traits of being a doctor.

Take home message
Fear of stigma and diagnoses challenges means that neurodivergent healthcare students and staff tend to be invisible and underrepresented in official data. A global, sustainable workforce requires developing a neuro-affirming culture that celebrates the strengths of neurodiversity.

References
1. Shaw SCK, Fossi A, Carravallah LA, Rabenstein K, Ross W, Doherty M. The experiences of autistic doctors: a cross-sectional study. Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jul 18;14:1160994. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1160994. PMID: 37533891; PMCID: PMC10393275.

2. Gray L, et al., Navigating neurodivergence: A scoping review to guide health professions educators. Med Educ. 2025;1–12.

3. Goffman E. The presentation of self in everyday life. London, NewYork:DoubleDay;1959.