Health fair addresses refugee health and wellness issues

UNMC students partnered with the community organization Restoring Dignity Omaha for the fall 2024 Refugee Health and Resource Fair at Benson High School on Nov. 2. Restoring Dignity works to bring the community together to serve the needs of refugee families. 

A total of 632 refugees, representing the Sudanese, Somali, Karen, Iraqi, Syrian, Afghanistani, Bhutanese communities and others in the Omaha area, received health care screenings and health education during the daylong event. Services were provided in 10 different languages.

Ayush Chataut, a second-year medical student, said the health fair addressed a lot of needs among the refugee population. “It’s incredible how many non-profits are here in Omaha, working hard to help refugee and immigrant families. They tackle challenging issues like housing, jobs and food insecurity, ensuring everyone feels welcomed and supported.”  

UNMC faculty and students participated. In all, 37 community-based clinics and health organizations provided screenings, immunizations, education and resources. Groups included:

• MUNA Box. The UNMC group Medical students United with Neighbors across America addresses refugee food insecurity and health literacy gaps.
• UNMC and Nebraska Medicine Truhlsen Eye Institute  
• UNMC SHARING Clinic 
• UNMC Munroe Meyer Institute  
• UNMC College of Pharmacy Operation Immunization 
• UNMC and Nebraska Medicine Community Wellness Collaborative
• UNMC All of Us 

The student-led interprofessional organization Bridge to Care, one of the UNMC Office of Community Engagement’s five legacy groups, focuses on refugee health. The group’s leadership is building opportunities for partnership and volunteering with the local organizations that assist people who are new to the United States, aiming to impact health and well-being.  

The fair provided valuable experience to those who volunteered. Bridge to Care’s president, second-year medical student Gunther Grinde, said he appreciated the collaboration among the groups serving refugee families.

“By working collaboratively with community organizations, the health fair not only addressed various immediate health needs, but also fostered a sense of belonging in our community,” Grinde said. “The fair highlighted the empowering impact of community-driven support and reaffirmed, to me, the importance of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine to continuously engage and support the Omaha community and some of its newest members.”

Paul Garcia, a first-year medical student at UNMC, said recently resettled refugees can face a challenge navigating the health care system. “Bridge to Care plays a vital role in bridging this gap by providing support through native language speakers and guiding individuals to available resources,” he said. “Through our eye screenings alone, we referred over 20 individuals for further evaluation of existing visual impairments or risks of future impairment.” 

Heidi Keeler, PhD, assistant vice chancellor for the UNMC Office of Community Engagement, expressed appreciation for growing partnerships. 

“Bridge to Care and all its students would like to thank Restoring Dignity for their valued partnership at this year’s fall health fair,” Dr. Keeler said. “Together with all of the exhibitors and participants, we had a great day and developed a deeper understanding of the factors that impact the health and wellness of all who attended. We look forward to building more pathways and collaborations to address the unique needs of our communities.”  

UNMC students who would like more information or would like to join Bridge to Care can visit the Bridge to Care page on ENGAGE.

Faculty who would like to help Bridge to Care build its partnerships can email the UNMC Office of Community Engagement.