Thomas Zand Refugee Health Initiatives

The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health is pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative made possible by the funding received from the Estate of the late Dr. Thomas Zand – local pediatrician, child of holocaust survivors, and advocate of children, refugees and education. Our inaugural event occurs on June 20, 2023- World Refugee Day, and our inaugural speaker is Dr. Crista Johnson-Agbakwu.

The Thomas Zand initiatives include:

Thomas Zand Lectureship on Refugee Health, established to engage and recognize national leaders in this field. Lectureship recipients will deliver an annual talk on refugee health to the UMass community of learners, faculty and staff, and engage with local refugee-serving community organizations.

Thomas Zand Refugee Health Community Award, given annually to recognize the amazing work done by Worcester community organizations working with newly arriving refugees and immigrants. 

Thomas Zand Refugee Health Scholarship, provided to UMass Chan learners passionate about care for refugees and immigrants, will support attendance of the North American Refugee Health Conference.