School of Medicine Human Rights Clinic

Abstract
The Immigration Law Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh and students and faculty at the School of Medicine are engaged in an effort to establish an asylum clinic that would provide forensic evaluations for asylum seekers. By documenting the physical and psychological sequelae of human rights abuses and submitting a medical-legal affidavit to court, physicians and students can make a difference in whether these individuals are granted asylum or other relief from deportation. The clinic also trains healthcare providers to perform asylum evaluations, and educates medical students about the process of asylum and the role of healthcare providers in asylum. Shadowing asylum evaluations not only exposes students to the unique points of view of human rights atrocity survivors, but also allows them to observe and practice trauma-informed interviewing and cross-cultural communication.
Principal Investigator
Sheila Velez Martinez
Co-Principal Investigator
School of Law
Jessica Merlin
Co-Principal Investigator
School of Medicine
Select Collaborators
John Beckham
School of Medicine
Gabriella Galli
School of Medicine
Linda Hamilto
School of Law
Olivia Legan
School of Medicine
Sahar Shaikh
School of Medicine
Yael Wollstein
School of Medicine