Our Mission
  • The Human Rights Initiative's (HRI) primary goal is to oversee our Asylum Clinic, which provides forensic documentation of the physical and psychological sequelae of torture and abuse experienced by individuals applying for asylum in the United States.
  • Our motivation is guided by research from the organization we are modeled after, Physicians for Human Rights, which shows that inclusion of a medical affidavit in an asylum application significantly increases the likelihood of approval.
  • We also seek to hold advocacy events and increase public awareness for Immigrant's and Asylee rights in the United States.
  • HRI is a unique opportunity for medical student volunteers to learn about the profound nature of the struggles of our clients and work directly with providers in the forensic examinations and legal affidavit preparation.
Click here for more information on the national Physicians for Human Rights organization for student asylum clinic. 

Meet Our Team

We are a medical student led, multi-disciplinary organization. Here are our current leaders:

Class of 2026 Leaders

​Mong Zhang
[email protected]

Glory Thai 
[email protected] 
Advocacy/Logistics Chair

Nikhila Yerabandi [email protected]

Legal Chair
Medical Chair

HEIDI MAKHLOUF
[email protected]

Medical Chair

​Pranava Mallu [email protected]

Affidavit Coordinator

Yulia Haraguchi [email protected]

Case Coordinator

Faculty Advisors

Dr. Debra Leizman

Internal Medicine Clerkship Director
​UH CLEVELAND MEDICAL CENTER

Dr. Nathan Stehouwer

​MEDICINE/PEDIATRICS Program Director
UH Cleveland Medical Center

Founding Leaders

Kenneth Stamper

Logistics Chair

Jerry Chen

Legal Chair

Kristie Sun

ADvocacy Chair

naomi wang

Medical Chair

Info for Clinicians

Training

You must complete training before performing medical evaluations of asylum-seekers. You can choose between two options:
(1) Complete virtual training (5 mandatory modules + post-course assessment).
- or -
(2) Register for and view the upcoming trainings on the Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) website.
  • This is a one-time required training on how to conduct a forensic exam and write an affidavit from the PHR national organization. 
  • There are a number of trainings over Zoom. 
  • Training is open to both residents and attendings; prior qualifications/experience can help but is by no means required. 
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About your role

  • Clinicians who conduct asylum evaluations are not expected to provide treatment. Instead, they are expected to summarize their encounter with the asylum seeker and their findings in the form of a medicolegal report, which may then be used by the asylum seeker’s attorney.
  • Two asylum-trained medical students join the clinician in the examination room and scribe as well as assist in the evaluation when appropriate.  The students then write the preliminary draft of the affidavit, which the physician then edits and finalizes.
  • A medicolegal report typically requires the responsible clinician to present findings that support or refute a history of torture or ill treatment, as well as an assessment on the risks involved in returning the applicant to their country of origin and on other risks related to the asylum seeker’s health conditions.​
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Your Impact

  • The written medical testimony that physician evaluators submit to courts for asylum seekers is frequently the determining factor when judges grant asylum or other relief from deportation for survivors of torture, domestic abuse, trafficking, and other forms of persecution who present with physical and psychological sequelae of abuse.
  • Asylum seekers in the United States who received medical evaluations have higher asylum grant rates (89%) than the national average of 37.5% during the same period*
*Lustig SL, Kureshi S, Delucchi KL, Iacopino V, Morse SC. Asylum grant rates following medical evaluations of maltreatment among political asylum applicants in the United States. J Immigr Minor Health. 2008;10(1):7-15. doi:10.1007/s10903-007-9056-8
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next steps

Sign up for our Listserv:
  1. This is how we will contact you for training session details and forensic exam signups
  2. Our current model is on an ad hoc basis, subject to demand 
Volunteer for Forensic Examination: 
  1. Upon receiving client referrals, we will be sending out signups 
  2. We will coordinate with clients to schedule the forensic exam at your convenience
  3. We are also able to assist in legal presentation to minimize workload 
Performing the Exam:
  1. Currently, exams are performed at the Health Education Campus (9501 Euclid Ave)

Info for Lawyers

Do you have a need for our services?
  • Do you currently know of any clients whose asylum requests may benefit from a medical evaluation?  
  • Would you like to meet to discuss the asylum clinic?

What does your service entail?
Depending on the needs of the client, the service involves a history, physical exam, and psychological evaluation from which the medical team will draft an affidavit for asylum seekers.
  1. First, the client and lawyer fill out an intake form that can be found through this link where they select the types of exam that should be performed and pertinent medical information.
  2. Then, we contact our network of PHR-trained volunteer medical providers to find one suited to perform the evaluation, and schedule a time that works for both the client and physician. 

What is the cost?
This is a pro bono service for people seeking asylum who are unable to afford an exam. 

We look forward to working with you to provide this important service.
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