Letter from the Director

As the Director of Global and Refugee Health at the University of Rochester/Highland Hospital Family Medicine program, I thank you for your interest in our Global Health program. Welcome to our website that offers a unique pictorial overview of our overseas trips, as well as diverse information regarding both global and refugee health.

The Department of Family Medicine has always been an advocate for the poor and underserved. Many of our graduates work with the underserved both in the U.S. and overseas. Several faculty, medical students, and residents have expressed a strong interest in meeting the health needs of the poor in less developed countries. To meet this need, the Department created a Global Health Track (GHT).

From the GHT's start, we created a longitudinal experience at one overseas project site where we could make a difference in the health of an entire community and partner with that community over many years. Short overseas medical trips often benefit the traveler more than the target population. We wanted to shift that balance. Although family medicine residents do not have the luxury of spending months at a time in a developing country (and still complete a family medicine residency), we have achieved the next best thing. Our longitudinal projects involve a series of residents who learn from the work done before. Using this method has allowed our group to achieve great success in the Honduran target community while educating residents on how to make sustainable improvements in developing countries. Everyone wins.

When not in Honduras, Family Medicine Department residents and faculty get a taste of global health by caring for refugees. Rochester has an active refugee resettlement program which resettles up to 700 refugees a year (before the 2016 election). Both Brown Square and Highland Family Medicine have large numbers of refugee patients from over 20 different countries. It's very rewarding to ease the suffering of so many who haven't been used to receiving health care. Improving the health of refugees helps them start a productive life in a new home while protecting the U.S. population from unusual infectious diseases.

The Family Medicine Department is excited by these dual initiatives and hopes you will consider becoming part of our team.

Sincerely,

Douglas Stockman, M.D.
Director, Global and Refugee Health
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine