Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

Forced migration progressively characterizes the nature of our global community. Local health care systems must adapt to meet diverse needs and incorporate distinctive strengths of societies that include growing refugee and immigrant communities. Approximately 18,000 refugees have been resettled in Virginia, USA since 2013. The Global Health Division at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) founded the Refugee Health Initiative in 2017 in partnership with the federally-sponsored refugee resettlement agency (Commonwealth Catholic Charities), local branches of the Virginia Department of Health, non-governmental organizations, local public schools and churches, and refugee community leaders to collaboratively improve access to healthcare and health education within refugee communities of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Incorporation of EVMS medical students and faculty in health service, research, and training focused on refugee health priorities in partnership with refugee community members and organizations has facilitated the collaborative identification and management of specific refugee health needs, empowering both patients and professionals. The EVMS Refugee Health Collaborative has facilitated implementation of bi-monthly refugee health fairs, ongoing mental health research, international refugee health service, and professional development to improve the health of refugee communities and the provision of culturally-appropriate and linguistically-competent healthcare.