As a pediatrician and director of the Yale Pediatric Refugee Clinic, Camille Brown, MD, enjoys helping children as they begin new lives in the United States.
“It’s amazing to meet these families, each of which has a different journey and different story to tell us,” Dr. Brown says. “While we teach them about keeping healthy and navigating the American health care system, they teach us about their cultures and traditions.”
The clinic operates through a partnership between Yale School of Medicine and Integrated Refugee Immigration Services (IRIS), a New Haven-based resettlement agency.
“We see families very soon after they arrive, and they are often overwhelmed. They have lost their homes. They may have been separated from family members,” she says. “But after a couple of months, they’ll come to the clinic with their new language skills and are excited to show off what they’ve been learning. Their resiliency and ability to adapt to a new culture is amazing.”
When she isn’t working with refugees, Dr. Brown treats children at the Yale Primary Care Center. “I love forming relationships with families and helping those who are working through medical or social challenges,” she says. “I like to work behind the scenes and connect them with our different resources, including social workers, case managers, and medical specialists.”
