Signs of the Times

What began with lessons in American Sign Language (ASL) at RFU’s Disability Awareness Club quickly bloomed into ASL Nights devoted to learning ASL and deepening understanding of the intersection of medicine and deaf culture.

ASL Nights were started by Ethan Oliver, CMS ’27, who uses bilateral cochlear implants and has utilized basic ASL most of his life.

“I was kind of sheltered from the deaf community,” Mr. Oliver says. “I felt like there was this whole language and identity that I wanted to know more about. I figured other students also felt this way.”

Since the first meeting in January 2025, programming has included multiple medical sign events, discussions with deaf clinicians, presentations by deaf lecturers, and more in-person and virtual meet-ups.

“I feel very passionately about equity, especially when it comes to ASL,” Mr. Oliver says. “All of us are pursuing healthcare programs, and we need to be able to treat all patients appropriately, with care and ability.”