Our Mission & History
connection · Advocacy · research · education
Our mission drives us to provide the education, resources, and community support necessary to equip healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge to offer compassionate and effective care to refugees and asylum seekers.
Our Mission
At the Society for Refugee Healthcare Providers, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of their background or circumstances.
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the healthcare of refugees and asylum seekers, as well as addressing equity in healthcare.
Our passionate members include medical providers, nurses, social workers, researchers, coordinators and many other professionals who spend much of their workday caring for newly-arriving refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants.
Our mission is to educate, coordinate, and provide a forum for communication by which members (and the general public) can become more informed about best practices in refugee and immigrant healthcare.
By fostering a collaborative and supportive environment, we aim to break down barriers to healthcare for refugees and immigrants, ensuring they receive the comprehensive care they need.
Our efforts extend beyond individual patient care to advocate for systemic changes that promote health equity and improve overall community health.
Interested in refugee healthcare?
Join us. Become a part of the growing movement to provide equitable healthcare in resettlement cities in North America and around the world.
The Society is an invaluable resource for the work that I do.. 🙌
Before the creation of our annual conference (formerly offered as the North American Refugee Health Conference or NARHC) and then subsequently the Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers, there was no US entity educating healthcare providers about how to deliver medical care for refugees. Literally!
Thousands of physicians around the world delivering medical care for refugees every day and no mechanism to connect, share best practices, or receive educational information or training. It is the equivalent of being a practicing cardiologist but having no society of cardiologists, journal, conference, or other avenue to perfect your craft.
First Refugee Health Conference
In 2010, the first US Refugee Health Conference was conducted and was a huge success.
Coincidentally, that same year Canada hosted the first Canadian Refugee Health Conference at the University of Toronto.
Following that first year, the US and Canada joined together to create NARHC which now alternates annually between the two countries. Attendees loved the conference so much that they asked for a forum to stay connected year round. So, the Society was born in 2015.
Today we’re proud to welcome professionals from across the United States, Canada and elsewhere around the world to both NARHC and our Society.
Read about our NARHC conference history and our evolution to the global stage in 2024 with our conference name change: International Refugee and Migration Health Conference.
Join & Support Our Society
Our society
Learn how you can get involved, support our work, and improve healthcare for immigrants today.
About Us
Get to know our organization and the dedicated professionals behind it. See how we focus on providing excellent care and support for displaced and refugee populations.
Donate
Help us improve healthcare for refugees and asylum seekers. Your generous donation funds education, resources, and advocacy efforts. Together, we can create a healthier future for all.
Volunteer or Intern
Join our team of dedicated volunteers and interns. Help us improve healthcare for refugees and immigrants through your passion and skills.