PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A survey released Tuesday suggests disabled faculty members who work in the medical profession feel stymied by the stigma often associated with disabilities and would like to see the academic world become more accommodating.

Researchers, led by Drs. Annie G. Steinberg of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and Lisa I. Iezzoni of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston, surveyed faculty and staff at their own universities and seven medical centers about their quality of life and work environment.

Based on anecdotal reports, many disabled medical professionals fear making their conditions known to their colleagues because they worry it could cost them professional opportunities such as promotions or tenure, the researchers report in the Dec. 25 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association.

There also is the problem of structural access. In the survey, the researchers report one individual requiring a wheelchair said she avoided eating or drinking at a reception where she was the honoree because the university auditorium where the event was held lacked wheelchair access to bathrooms. Another disabled survey respondent said her university department has not offered her a tenure-track position because of concern the position would be stressful.

Survey respondents also said they could compete for professional promotions with few changes to academic criteria. For example, timelines or criteria for professional advancement could emphasize less traveling to include more disabled faculty. Modifying teaching, clinical and research settings to accommodate disabled staff also would improve their work environment.