Welcome to the Social Medicine Portal, a project developed by faculty members of the Department of Family and Social Medicine of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The portal contains over a hundred links to websites, documents and presentations devoted to Social Medicine. "New to Social Medicine?" contains information for those new to social medicine or to this site. You can also read our article, "What is Social Medicine?" published in the January 2005 Monthly Review.

Physicians for Human Rights mobilizes health professionals to advance health, dignity, and justice and promotes the right to health for all. Harnessing the specialized skills, rigor, and passion of doctors, nurses, public health specialists, and scientists, PHR investigates human rights abuses and works to stop them.”

The asylum network is an integral part of the work PHR does in the United States.

 From the PHR website:

“Each year, tens of thousands of people from around the world seek asylum in the United States.  Many have been physically or psychologically tortured in their countries of origin and may face further persecution, even death, if forced to return. The members of PHR's Asylum Network assist these asylum seekers by conducting mental and physical evaluations to document the forensic evidence of abuse.  Our clinicians also use their expertise to educate their colleagues and to inform public policy affecting refugees and asylum seekers.  Asylum Network volunteers number more than 500 nationwide. The work they do can literally save a life.”

Volunteering to evaluate an asylum seeker can be an important and rewarding way to use your medical training in the service of human rights.