Through innovative partnerships and education, the HEAL Refugee Health & Asylum Collaborative expands access to responsive health care and supportive services for immigrant survivors of torture and trauma seeking refuge in the US.

Today we celebrate

World Refugee Day

June 20th, 2023

In recognition of World Refugee Day, we ask you to consider donating to support HEAL. HEAL provides crucial support to refugees, asylum seekers, and other forced migrants, empowering them to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. We firmly believe that every individual deserves access to quality healthcare, a secure environment, and the opportunity to thrive.

By donating to HEAL on World Refugee Day, your generosity will go toward enabling us to expand our reach and provide comprehensive support to those in need. Please consider donating today - your contribution matters!

HEAL Recognizes Pride Month

Recognizing the increasing prevalence of persecution due to sexual orientation and gender identity, HEAL is dedicated to being a resource center for LGBTQIA+ survivors of torture and trauma and provides affirming pro bono therapy to LGBTQIA+ clients who face critical language barriers in accessing mental health care.

Through HEAL’s forensic evaluation clinic, we have provided forensic medical evaluations for individuals from over ten different countries who have faced LGBTQIA+ related persecution. Additionally, HEAL was critically involved in the creation and promotion of the Asylum Medicine Training Initiative (AMTI)’s national module on Evaluating LGBTQIA+ Asylum Seekers.

HEAL has presented this work both nationally and internationally. As such, HEAL is recognized as a center of excellence in providing comprehensive support to LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and has attracted a number of volunteer evaluators who themselves identify as LGBTQIA+, offering clients the comfort of working with SOGI-concordant evaluators whenever possible.

Our Partners

Forensic Evaluation Clinic

Forensic evaluations document a client’s history of torture, persecution, or other ill treatment that may corroborate their claim for legal protection. Students interested in volunteering with HEAL’s forensic evaluation clinic can learn more here.

Become a Forensic Medical Evaluator!

Are you a licensed mental health clinician or medical professional with an interest in refugee health and asylum medicine?

We are currently seeking independently licensed individuals with relevant clinical backgrounds to conduct psychological, physical, gynecological, and neurological/neuropsychological evaluations for HEAL clients.

Program Updates

Survivors of Torture Program - Medication Delivery

In collaboration with the John G. Bartlett Pharmacy at Johns Hopkins, we are proud to introduce a medication delivery program for clients enrolled in HEAL’s Survivors of Torture (SOT) Health Program in partnership with Asylee Women Enterprise (AWE). This initiative is made possible through funding from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) along with additional support from the Baltimore City Health Department. With this initiative, HEAL will reduce transportation and cost barriers, delivering essential medications directly to SOT patients while they are attending programming at AWE.

Refugee Health Partnership

The Refugee Health Partnership (RHP) Advocacy Program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in which 30 students are currently participating, has been actively engaged in providing critical health navigation and advocacy to medically vulnerable clients at Asylee Women Enterprise, including asylum seekers and survivors of trafficking. RHP leaders recently presented this innovative model at the PHR (Physicians for Human Rights) conference in April.

Steps to Success Peer Support Program

Since its inception in February, the Steps to Success Peer Support Program, which HEAL runs in partnership with AWE, has been conducting biweekly sessions for two youth/ young adult groups - one for new and pregnant mothers and one for young men. The program's success has been remarkable, exceeding our expectations. As a result, we are seeking funding to extend the program beyond the current grant period and broaden its scope to encompass additional populations. We are enthusiastic about expanding the reach and impact of this initiative.

Border Partnership

HEAL team members are collaborating with the Refugee Health Alliance to provide clinical care and conduct research in Tijuana, Mexico, in addition to our ongoing medical-legal partnership with the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. HEAL remains committed to monitoring the constantly evolving situation at the US-Mexico border and to supporting those seeking safety at our doorstep, with focus on the most vulnerable. For an idea of the critical medico-legal evaluations we do on the border, please see our recent publication on our work in the journal Torture.

Related News

Thank You to CCGHE-ID at Johns Hopkins for including HEAL at the recent Open House (photo above). We look forward to further collaboration and integration with the BHEAM team!

Shout Out to our HEAL colleagues for presenting at the Pediatric Academic Society 2023, the Baltimore Immigration Summit, and the Physicians for Human Rights National Student conference.

HEAL conducted a national training for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) for their Matching Grant Network on Building Survivor-Centered & Sustainable Case Management Teams in March. 

HEAL presented at the Yale National Asylum Medicine Colloquium in April. We were able to share our innovative model with leaders in asylum medicine from across the country.

Shiri Kalai is an MSPH student in the Social and Behavioral Interventions program for International Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is completing her practicum with HEAL. She is a native Spanish speaker and is excited to work with the Baltimore City community!

Awards & Recognition

Congrats to JJ Kim, Logistics Coordinator for HEAL’s Forensic Evaluation Clinic, for receiving an honorable mention from the Reverend Melvin B. Tuggle East Baltimore Community Excellence Award.

Congrats to Dr. Nick Cuneo, HEAL’s Medical Director, for being recognized with the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association Community Champion Award.

Best Wishes to Alex Blum and Tim Treinen, students who were integral to the formation of HEAL. Alex Blum is headed to Brigham & Women’s Hospital for his Internal Medicine residency. Tim Treinin is headed to serve as the Clinic Coordinator for Refugee Health Alliance in Tijuana, Mexico.

Best Wishes to Dr. Beatrix Shikani and Dr. Jade Cobern for graduating from the Johns Hopkins General Preventive Medicine Residency Program and completing their rotations with us. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to serving HEAL clients!

Thank you to everyone who came to our first annual HEAL BBQ! We look forward to hosting more appreciation events in honor of our incredible community of volunteers and supporters.

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