PHR Student Blog

We are extremely pleased to announce the 2013 Physicians for Human Rights National Student Conference at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, on Saturday, February 2.

Register or submit an abstract here: https://sites.google.com/site/phrnationalconference/.

Each conference brings together a diverse group of students and professionals that learn from one another, create lasting connections and generate innovative ideas and solutions for the advancement of health social justice. From the dynamic speakers and invigorating discussions, to the ability to network with leaders in the field of human rights, this conference is going to be phenomenal!

Speakers this year will include Dr. Allen Keller of NYU’s Program for Survivors of Torture, Dr. Makini Chisholm-Straker from Sinai’s Libertas clinic for human rights, and Dr. Jack Geiger, one of the founding members of PHR.

We encourage each interested student to fundraise for his or her own registration costs, and other expenses related to attendance (travel/lodging). Although the registration fee for a medical/health profession student is $40, PHR has made provisions to accommodate students with significant financial need; the registration fee will be reduced and calculated based on determination of need. If you feel that you qualify for aid (a reduced conference registration rate), please email us.

More photos from the 2011 PHR National Student Conference:

The speaker panels at PHR’s National Conference were followed by a moving awards ceremony that began by recognizing the tremendous lifetime achievements of our departed friend and Student Advisory Board member, Sujal Parikh, with the prestigious Navin Narayan Award. Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s student chapter garnered the Emerging Leaders Award for their indefatigable efforts to end physician involvement in torture through lobbying for the Gottfried-Duane Anti-Torture Bill and publishing about it in The Lancet Student, for their work with asylum seekers at Mount Sinai’s Human Rights Clinic, and for using the momentum from last year’s conference to institute a successful Health and Human Rights Elective (HHRE) at their school. The chapter gave an informative talk that included a step-by-step model for how other student chapters can implement HHRE curricula at their own institutions.

Finally, Dr. Jack Geiger, a founding member and Past President of PHR, was presented in absentia with the Leon and Carola Eisenberg Award in recognition of his remarkable contributions to care for the underserved. Dr. Geiger’s community health center model fundamentally shifted the landscape of health care delivery in this country towards greater equity and dignity for the poor, and it was edifying to learn about his steadfast dedication to the civil rights movement in the face of constant threats to his career and reputation. His presence at the conference was greatly missed, but even in his absence he managed to leave an indelible impression.

However, as much as I enjoyed the talks and awards, my favorite part of the day was yet to come. At the Sujal Parikh Memorial Education Expo, I found that Dr. Geiger’s legacy is in good hands. Student chapters across the country have been engaging in domestic and international research and advocacy to promote health and human rights. The expo covered a wide range of topics, including:

• Medical outreach trips to Tanzania, Ghana, and Nicaragua;
• The development of health programs on the India/Burma border;
• The rights of human cadavers;
• The implementation of a context-driven extracurricular program on health equity.

The exchange of ideas continued at the collaborative working sessions, during which chapters brainstormed future directions based on what they had learned during the day, and intermingled to derive further inspiration from their peers at other institutions. In the few days since the conference, regional chapters have already begun sharing news of future events with each other, an exciting trend that I hope will continue and open doors for additional collaboration down the road.

Dr. Jennifer Leaning, Director of the Harvard Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, closed the day with a powerful discussion of the human rights framework as it pertained to the conflict in Bosnia. PHR CEO Frank Donaghue provided the coda to Dr. Leaning’s remarks, reminding us that the recent popular uprisings in the Middle East demonstrate that an injustice against one is an injustice against all, and the sum of those “ones” can change the world.

What did you take away from the conference? Please leave your comments below!

The not-so-simple act of surviving medical school can be exhausting, easily wearing on the ideals of even the most dedicated human rights advocates. Third year clerkships have been particularly grueling, so I’ve spent much of the year looking forward to PHR’s National Conference as an opportunity to recharge my batteries—a chance to be inspired by luminaries in the field of health and human rights, as well as by the work of my fellow students (aka future luminaries).  When the conference finally arrived last weekend, it provided just the jolt I had been looking for.

The fun began early with a pub night. By the end of the evening, I had met students from as far away as Texas, learned something new about connective tissue diseases from a researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital, and even received career advice from one of the conference speakers—all while sipping delicious cocktails and enjoying good music. It was a great way to jump-start the weekend and to arrive at the conference knowing there would be familiar faces to greet.

The conference itself provided all the inspiration I had been looking for. The all-star presentation line-up included a keynote by Dr. Howard Zucker, who described the power of even small ideas to change the face of care for the underserved if we persist in pursuing their implementation. He was followed by Professor Stephen Marks, who expounded upon the notion of a right to health in the context of the current American political climate. The panels that transitioned the conference from morning to afternoon included:

• Motivational advice from PHR Past President Dr. Holly Atkinson about our role in bending the arc of history toward justice;
• Moving first-hand testimony about the conflicts in Chechnya and Darfur from Dr. Khassan Baiev and Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Eisa, respectively, along with commentary by Dr. Michael VanRooyen, Dr. Sondra Crosby, and PHR Deputy Director Susannah Sirkin about how American medical professionals can assist in the face of atrocities;
• Practical advice from resident Sohil Sud, fellows Stephen Morris and Parveen Parmar, and Oxfam America advisor Sarah Kalloch about how to pursue a commitment to human rights throughout medical training;
• Explanation by Dr. Ramin Asgary and lawyer Christy Fujio of the role medical affidavits can play in ensuring that torture survivors receive asylum;
• A primer from PHR Deputy Director Richard Sollom on the power of epidemiological research to hold perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable;
• Tips for developing advocacy initiatives based on clinical problems and taking these initiatives to the press, by Dr. Gloria White-Hammond, ABIM Foundation Director of Communications John Held, and PHR Senior Press Officer Megan Prock.

Click here to learn more about the speakers.

(In the next post, recap of the awards ceremony and Sujal Parikh Memorial Education Expo…)

The PHR National Student Program and the PHR Student Advisory Board would like to extend a special “thank you” to our conference hosts, the Tufts University School of Medicine PHR student chapter, who worked incredibly hard to make the conference so memorable. At the beginning of the day, Dr. Joyce Sackey, Tufts’ Dean for Multicultural Affairs and Global Health, gave a brief talk in which she challenged her audience not to strive to be “A” students, but rather “ACE” students. She argued that a student becomes a great health professional by exhibiting the qualities of Advocacy, Compassion, and Excellence. Throughout the day, the many Tufts volunteers modeled these values admirably as they assisted fellow students, eloquently introduced speakers, and diligently executed the myriad tasks that it takes to make such a large event run smoothly. We owe much of the day’s success to their efforts.

PHR would like to especially recognize the engaging leadership, meticulous (and impressive) organization skills and unwavering enthusiasm of the Tufts Conference leadership team: Moira Rashid, Sarah Cairo, Lily Conover, Vicky Reichman, and Colleen Fant. Thank you for graciously hosting and organizing the 2011 National Conference! As cliché as this statement may be, we couldn’t have done it without you! On behalf of the entire PHR National Student Program, it has been a pleasure working closely with all of you over the past few months.

Please join me in thanking the Tufts Chapter for hosting this year’s event in the comments section below.

Students from UTHSCSA at the Chicago Regional Advocacy Institute.

The PHR National Student Conference on Saturday, February 12, 2011 is next Saturday, and this year’s lineup of speakers, student presentations, workshops, and collaborative working sessions means that this Conference is targeted at you.

It’s not too late to register! Click here to sign up. Find great last minute transportation deals on megabus, bolt bus, greyhound, and kayak. Other options include amtrak or you could carpool, maybe with zipcar.

It’s even more fun with a friend, so send your friend the link to this blog. Last year, over 25% of Conference participants said they came because a friend invited them.

If you’re coming alone, not to worry – there day’s agenda has lots of time to meet people at the regional lunches, the collaborative working sessions, the Education Expo, and the reception. One more way to make sure there are some familiar faces at the Conference: Join other students and PHR staff at a Pub Night on Friday, February 11, from 7:00 – 10:00 pm at Good Life Bar in downtown Boston, not far from Tufts University School of Medicine.

Please print the Logistics Guide PDF (pdf) found on the Conference web

site. It contains the following information to ensure your trip to the conference is as smooth as possible:

• Directions to the Tufts University School of Medicine
• Information about parking and public transportation
• Contact information for local cab companies
• Information on the Pre-Conference Friday Pub Night
• A list of activities in the city should you choose to stay for the weekend. By the way – the Lion Dance Parade (to celebrate the 2011 Chinese New Year) will take place the day after the Conference (Sunday, Feb 13^th from 10 am-5pm) in Chinatown, the same neighborhood as the PHR Conference!

Also, the most up-to-date Conference Agenda and list of speakers can be found on the Conference website.

Don’t forget to pack:

• Waterproof shoes, gloves, and a warm coat – Boston is sunny, but still has piles of snow
• Your white coat – for fabulous photographs of health professional activism
• Your ID – for the networking pub night on Friday (see below)
• A pen – for sharing your email address with new contacts and jotting down brilliant ideas
• A water bottle – at 12 hours, this is an endurance event
• This email and the Logistics Guide PDF

No need to pack a snack for Saturday; we’ll feed you five times.

On Saturday, please arrive between 8:00 – 8:15 a.m. at the Arthur M. Sackler Center for Medical Education (located at 145 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02111) for registration and breakfast. If you are presenting at the Education Expo, arrive by 8:00 to give yourself enough time to set up.

Please note the contact information below (the PHR cell) for use in case you get lost or if your travel plans change unexpectedly en route to the Conference: 617-413-6407.

We also invite you to join us for the Saturday night reception at 6:30 pm – immediately following PHR CEO Frank Donaghue’s closing remarks.  This reception will bring together presenters, PHR staff, and health professional faculty and students for appetizers and networking.

Please stay tuned to the Conference website for updates as the event approaches.

(Part 1 of a 3-part series.)

PHR’s 2011 National Conference, entitled “Our Role, Our Responsibility: Defending Health and Human Rights” will be held in Boston on February 12.  The conference focuses on both the duties of and opportunity available to health professionals, and the work they can do in three areas; as clinicians, as advocates, and as researchers. PHR Student Chapters and Physicians for Human Rights as an organization embody this responsibility and offer myriad example of health professionals and students fulfilling these roles. PHR’s evidence-gathering in Sudan provides a powerful example of the work medical researchers can contribute to human rights struggles.

With the referendum in Sudan in the news, and the likelihood of a new state in South Sudan high, we must not forget the president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir remains indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide in Darfur. All three Darfuri regions will, if South Sudan gains independence, remain under the rule of Bashir in the north. While international attention is presently focused on the southern elections, justice has not yet been done for the Darfuri people. A recent New York Times Q&A with President Jimmy Carter, who is on the ground in Sudan as the referendum takes place, echoed international opinion by saying that Bashir’s arrest warrant will not be dropped by the ICC as long as his government continues to resist an authentic peace agreement in Darfur.

Physicians for Human Rights was instrumental in the research that led to the ICC indictment against Bashir. PHR’s advocacy efforts on behalf of the Darfuri people included sending investigators to the Chad-Sudan border to interview survivors, as well as documenting the devastation of three Darfuri villages. PHR released three reports on Darfur: Nowhere to Turn: Failure to Protect, Support and Assure Justice for Darfuri Women, The Use of Rape as a Weapon of War in the Conflict in Darfur, and Darfur – Assault on Survival: A Call for Security, Restitution and Justice. PHR’s documentation of three separate destroyed water sources was highlighted in the second arrest warrant by the ICC, which added genocide to Bashir’s charges. The ICC viewed deliberate government-backed contamination of “wells and water pumps of the towns and villages primarily inhabited by members of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa groups” as an aspect of what comprised a genocidal policy. The full indictment can be read here.

In Darfur and other war-torn regions, PHR researchers have been instrumental in providing verified medical proof of genocide, torture, and abuse. While it is sometimes difficult to see the connection between medical research and human rights victories, the crucial role of medical professionals in securing an indictment against a genocidal regime demonstrates the real-world utility of health professionals as researchers.

One of my favorite phrases is that “jealousy is a stinky cologne.” If this is the case, I reek.  Having been a member of PHR’s student organization for almost 4 years now, I have had a chance to attend multiple national conferences in the past and each has been a fantastic experience. Sadly, I will be out of the country this February and, as the finishing touches are put on this year’s conference, I can’t help but reflect on what I am missing — and be jealous of those who will attend!

About this time each year, I always find myself feeling a little burned out — thinking about whatever is coming (my “last free summer,” step 1, clinical rotations, residency). The PHR National Student Conference serves as a powerful pick-me-up and inspires me towards greater heights. Whether I was listening to Dr. Julio Frenk talk about his experience as the former Minister of Health in Mexico, Dr. Robert Lawrence discuss the founding of PHR and the development of Human Rights charters, my peer Justin List accept the Navin Narayan award for his incredible work in Uganda, or the conversations of inspired students like myself at tables all around me I was always instilled with a new passion for advocacy. So many of my projects over the years have a direct tie to this conference.

This year’s conference will be no different. Dr. Howard Zucker has held a variety of prestigious positions at the WHO, at the White House and at the UN — his insight into current international and domestic situations will be invaluable to hear. Dr. Jennifer Leaning has a long history of powerful advocacy initiatives — here is a 2007 video of her discussing her personal investigations of the Darfur region and her thoughts about what will be needed. Sarah Kalloch worked for PHR for many years and has great insight into the national student program — she is currently working as a policy advocate and education specialist for Oxfam; she is also one of the most inspirational people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. And there are so many more!

I think I am starting to stink again.

Pardon my enthusiasm, but I can’t contain my excitement!  I’m eager for February 12th to arrive, in part because I’m looking forward to hearing presentations by our diverse array of Conference speakers, but also because this year’s Education Expo promises to be one of the most interesting, diverse and engaging Expos to date!

According to our chapter members, one of the favorite sessions at the Conference each year is the Education Expo which showcases innovative projects, research and advocacy campaigns created by your fellow students doing exciting, on-the-ground work at the intersection of health and human rights.

The Sujal Parikh Memorial Education Expo is a unique opportunity for Conference attendees to see how health and human rights work extends from the classroom to the local clinic and into the global health arena.  It also offers student presenters experience presenting informally in a research fair environment – which serves as great practice for formal Conference presentations later in your career.

The PHR Student Advisory Board has decided to name PHR’s annual exhibit of student research, project work, and art after Sujal Parikh, a remarkable young man who consistently demonstrated intellectual curiosity, an interest in educating and inspiring his peers, and dedication to research that benefitted the least powerful in society.  This year, and for years to come, Sujal will continue to be honored at each PHR Conference.

As this year’s Conference Coordinator, I’ve been able to see firsthand the unique and intriguing Expo applications crossing my desk.  So far, students will present on topics ranging from U.S.-Mexico border health issues to the ethical and human rights obligations of the anatomy lab to medical missions in Nicaragua and Ghana. Expo presenters currently hail from three of the National Student Program’s five regions (West, South and Mid-Atlantic.)

A lesser-known fact is that many universities cover travel costs and/or offer scholarships to their own students who present at official functions – such as a conference.  Our Student Expo presenters will receive a formal acceptance letter from PHR that can be presented to the appropriate administrators if you wish to solicit financial support from your university.

Apply to present at the Expo today! To review Expo Submission Guidelines visit the Expo Page on the Conference website.

On February 12, 2011, medical, nursing, dental, pharmacy, and public health professional students — who are all leaders and human rights activists — will convene at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA for the 2011 PHR National Student Conference.

Register today!

That Saturday will be filled with the excitement that brought so many of us to the health professions: the vision for a more humane and healthier world. Since I began medical school, PHR’s annual national conference has rejuvenated and strengthened my motivation for practicing medicine and making a difference in public service. I invite you to experience the power and camaraderie of our gathering this year!

I’ve just heard that Dr. Jack Geiger — the man who created the community health center model, not to mention one of the founders of PHR — will be there to accept a special award. It will be amazing to hear him speak at the conference. Our Role, Our Responsibility: Defending Health and Human Rights will be your chance to also meet and interact with dynamic, world-renowned human rights leaders, including:

• Howard Zucker, MD, JD, LLM – A senior advisor to the Division of Global Health & Human Rights at Massachusetts General Hospital; formerly  Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health.
• Jennifer Leaning, MD, SMH – The Director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University and former PHR Board member who revealed the mass grave at Dasht-e-Leili, Afghanistan, and investigated systematic rape in Darfur, Sudan.
• Ramin Asgary, MD – A professor at Mt. Sinai who has worked with students to establish a new course on health and human rights. Dr. Asgary has worked with asylum seekers and refugees, both in the US and in international humanitarian crises.
• Khassan Baiev, MD – As a wartime trauma surgeon, Dr. Baiev treated thousands of civilians and combatants in Chechnya.
• Mohammed Ahmed Eisa, MD – Awarded the 2007 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award for his clinical and humanitarian work in Darfur, Sudan.

Come to the conference on Feb. 12 to hear about the first-hand experiences of human rights defenders, learn about opportunities for leadership, and develop hands-on advocacy skills.

Demonstrate your passion for human rights and your school’s accomplishments at the Sujal Parikh Memorial Education Expo by showcasing your research, service, group projects, new human rights courses, or photography. From now on, this annual Expo will commemorate and honor Sujal Parikh’s life and work.

You may be able to get sponsorship from your school for presenting at a conference. You can also apply for a scholarship. Get more information on how to raise financial support for your and your chapter’s attendance. There’s less than a month to go, so get your tickets now!

As a member of the Student Advisory Board, I know that this Conference will offer the opportunity to connect with amazing people and hear about new resources to educate your community. Register today, and then invite friends, faculty, residents, colleagues, and others you know will want to attend! Whether you are a leader or member of a PHR student chapter or new to PHR and just passionate about health and human rights, you will be glad you came.

Join us in Boston for a fun, exciting day to help advance a national movement to promote and protect human rights locally and globally, and advocate for a more just, healthier future for all.

Will you be there?

I look forward to seeing you!