Julian Maha

Dr. Julian Maha is a physician, social entrepreneur, and advocate for neurodiversity whose work has influenced approaches to inclusion and accessibility. Maha completed his residency in family health at Baptist Health System in Montgomery and later served as an emergency room physician in Birmingham, Alabama. After Baptist Health System outsourced its emergency services, Maha joined TeamHealth as ER and EMS director. Throughout his medical career, Maha has remained dedicated to frontline patient care, continuing to practice medicine and applying his expertise in emergency medicine settings.

Maha's commitment to neurodiversity and accessibility deepened following his son's autism diagnosis. After his first child, Abram, experienced developmental changes and was diagnosed with autism, Maha co-founded a nonprofit to promote acceptance and inclusion for autistic and neurodivergent children, as well as individuals with invisible disabilities. KultureCity develops tools and programs to help events and institutions become more accommodating.

Under Maha's leadership, KultureCity has launched initiatives to promote acceptance, accessibility, and inclusion across sectors such as sports arenas, museums, zoos, and educational institutions. KultureCity has partnered with the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and the National Football League to help teams provide accommodations for fans, and supplies Sensory Activation Vehicles and Mobile Sensory Stations to events and venues without permanent sensory relief spaces. KultureCity has also collaborated with LEGO to develop inclusion and accessibility resources for retail stores in Europe and the United States. The nonprofit has received recognition, including a People's Choice award as part of the South by Southwest Innovation Awards and the dedication of its 1,000th sensory room at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

Maha has received recognition for his humanitarian work, including being named a CNN Hero and receiving the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award. He has also been honored with The NASCAR Foundation's Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, the Alabama Distinguished Citizen Award, and was named Top Southerner by Southern Living Magazine. Maha is a Top 40 Under 40 Influencer. KultureCity has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the world's most innovative companies, Microsoft as a Top 10 USA Nonprofit, and GreatNonProfits as Nonprofit of the Year.

Maha has spoken on inclusion, accessibility, and social entrepreneurship at venues such as the United Nations and the Vatican, advocating for greater understanding and acceptance of individuals with autism on a global scale. He has previewed KultureCity's project to transform Birmingham's historic Powell Avenue steam plant into a national center for accessibility, innovation, and inclusion, featuring job training programs, sensory spaces, and community resources. Maha also serves on boards and advisory councils focused on advancing the rights and opportunities of individuals with invisible disabilities and sensory needs, supporting the ongoing mission to build a more inclusive world.