Cheri Blauwet, Medical Student, Stanford University
Cheri Blauwet is a medical student at Stanford University and a Paralympic Gold Medalist in the 800 meters. She is in her fourth year of general medical training and plans to complete her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation; with the goal of using innovative and proactive means of rehabilitation to impact her patients and mitigate social stigmas surrounding disability. She was the winner of the women's wheelchair division in the 2004 and 2005 Boston Marathon, and was nominated for the 2004 and 2005 ESPY Award in the category Best Athlete with a Disability. Also, in 2004, she was given the Paul Hearne Leadership Award by the American Association of People with a Disability, given annually to three young adults who display outstanding leadership potential in areas of disability rights and equality.