Thomas Zand Refugee Health Initiatives
The UMass Chan Medical School Department of Family Medicine and Community Health annual Thomas Zand Initiatives include three distinct parts: a visiting professorship, a community partner celebration event featuring a community-selected partner recognition award and a student scholarship program.
Thomas Zand Visiting Professorship in Refugee Health
The Zand Visiting Professor is invited to spend a day meeting with faculty, staff and learners, speaking at the FMCH Grand Rounds, and participating in the Community Celebration event.
5/20/25: Patricia Walker MD, Medical Director at HealthPartners Center for International Health, St. Paul MN
5/21/2024: Marc Altshuler, MD, Residency Director, Dept of Family and Community Medicine, Jefferson Medical School
6/20/2023: Crista Johnson-Agbakwu, MD, Director, UMass Chan Collaborative for Health Equity
Thomas Zand Community Celebration of Refugee Health
May 19, 2025, Worcester Community Action Council
May 20, 2024, Worcester Community Action Council
June 20, 2023, UMass Chan Medical School
Thomas Zand Partner Recognition Award
2024: Office of New Americans at Friendly House: received by Jillian Phillips
2023: Worcester Area Refugee Ministry
Thomas Zand Refugee Health Scholarships for Excellence in Research and Service
**Note that the Zand Student Scholarships have been paused in the face of unprecedented federal funding cuts.
The Thomas Zand Refugee Health Scholarships support medical students passionate about refugee health and allow them to attend a national refugee health conference.
There are usually two annual competitive scholarships:
- Excellence in Service: for a 1st or 2nd year medical student who demonstrates passion for refugee health as well as commitment and service.
- 2024: Mariane St. Thomas
- 2023: Ezdean Alkurdi
- Excellence in Research: for a 2nd or 3rd year (medical student who demonstrates scholarship in refugee health and has submitted a presentation or a poster to a refugee health conference.
- 2024: Erik Bratland
- 2023: Priscilla Lee