Trauma and the Refugee Patient: Barriers and Strategies for Care

Originally presented on February 5, 2016

Overview

This webinar begins by presenting refugee resettlement demographics in New York State. In upstate areas, new refugee populations helped increase cultural diversity while presenting new challenges to health care providers and public health practitioners unfamiliar with refugee cultures and the issues they face. 

In this presentation, Dr. Porterfield will explain the way we communicate with a person who has suffered trauma matters. She will describe the major sources of refugee trauma, its impacts on cognition and the brain, and the principles of recovering from trauma. She will discuss ways to facilitate emotional safety among refugees, strategies for talking about trauma, and when and how to refer refugees to community services. 

James Sutton will conclude the webinar by describing the Refugee Health Clinic at Rochester Regional Health, and how they have put some of the principles Dr. Porterfield describes into practice.

Target Audience

Public health professionals, environmental professionals, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, local health department staff and other medical and public health professionals.

 

Webinar

Trauma and the Refugee Patient: Barriers and Strategies for Care

 

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Speakers

Katherine Porterfield, PhD
Staff Psychologist, Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture 
Clinical Instructor, NYU School of Medicine 
 
James Sutton, PA-C 
Director, Community Medicine, Rochester Regional Health 
Chair, North American Refugee Healthcare Conference 
Executive Director, Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers

Learning Outcome and Objectives

As a result of this activity, the learner will be able to enhance their knowledge and competence on the major sources of refugee trauma, its impacts on cognition and the brain, and the principles of recovering from trauma.

After watching this webinar participants will be able to:

  • Recognize the impacts of trauma on memory and the brain  
  • Identify ways you can facilitate emotional safety among refugees. 
  • Describe the three principles of recovery from trauma. 
  • Explain what, why and how of working with community organizations serving refugees
Activity Materials
Evaluation, Post-Test and Certificate
Continuing Education Credits

Continuing Education credits expired for this activity in February 2022. We encourage you to fill out the evaluation as your responses help us to plan future programs.