Virginia Health Equity and Justice Fellow
University of Virginia
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia
Jess Walters (they/them) is an independent scholar, disability justice advocate, and multimedia artist serving as an inaugural Virginia Health Equity and Justice Fellow at the University of Virginia Center for Health Humanities and Ethics. Jess’ unique perspective as a multiply-neurodivergent Deaf-queer person allows them to identify and challenge barriers to engaging with creative community activities and cultivate inclusive opportunities for communal reverence. Since receiving a kidney transplant in 2018, Jess has been collaborating with several patient-led organizations to improve health literacy and healthcare accessibility. They articulate their lived experiences through collage, film, zines, and other mixed media to illustrate inequities in the healthcare system and guide others navigating similar circumstances. In addition to training for their Ethics Consult Service certification, Jess is currently researching clinical applications of a Disability Justice framework while working to expand accessibility accommodations in local creative spaces. Their artwork has been exhibited at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Second Street Gallery, New City Arts Initiative, and the Charles O. Strickler Transplant Clinic at UVA.
Friday, September 20, 2024
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM CT