Division of Biology and Medicine
Center for Global Health Equity
Student Highlights and Programs
Students are central to the mission of the Collaborative on Forced Migration & Refugee Health. Through clinical engagement, research, advocacy, and community partnership, students play an active role in advancing equitable care for refugees and forcibly displaced populations.
Student Highlight
Benjamin Katz
Ben is currently working on a project titled "Intertwined Voices of Refugee Families: A Visual and Narrative Exploration of Resettlement" in collaboration with the Refugee Dream Center (RDC). This project aims to amplify the voices of refugees and their lived experiences coming to the U.S.A through a multimedia approach. The project has been exhibited once already in the List Art Center and has raised over $13,000 so far. The plan is to continue to exhibit the work to continue to raise awareness and money for the RDC. As seen in the picture at the exhibit, this project would not be possible without the immense help and collaboration of medical students Alfonso Roque, Coley Kicklighter, and Isabella Hung.
Photo Credit: Benjamin Katz
Explore Our Programs
At the heart of BHRAC is a clinician-student teaching paradigm that mutually benefits survivors, medical students, and clinicians. BHRAC provides space for asylum clinicians to conduct the physical and psychological evaluations of asylum seekers. Two asylum-trained medical students join the clinician in the examination room and assist in the evaluation. The students then write the preliminary draft of the affidavit, which the physician then edits and finalizes. BHRAC sends the affidavit to the client's attorney and the national PHR office for review and submission. Asylum seekers benefit from including a medicolegal affidavit in their application for asylum. Students gain the invaluable opportunity to learn from asylum evaluators. Clinicians are relieved of the administrative burden of coordination and writing the initial draft.
The BRIGHT (Brown Residency International Global Health Training) Pathway is a 2-year longitudinal program designed to create and support a multidisciplinary community of residents and fellows who are interested in making global health part of their career. The BRIGHT Pathway consists of quarterly meetings with guest speakers, along with a self-directed curriculum of core global health topics. Residents and fellows in the program are required to complete a scholarly activity and presentation prior to graduation. For those residents and fellows fulfilling these requirements, they will be granted a Global Health Certificate at graduation.