The Special Report from EM News titled “Torture Survivors: Hidden in Plain Sight,” discusses the role of the Emergency Department (ED) in connecting torture survivors with holistic services. The Libertas Center’s founders Dr. Beattie and Dr. Bais, and Libertas Executive Director Dr. Fernando describe their experience with and approach to identifying and caring for torture survivors, and how the ED often serves as the first point of entry into the healthcare system for survivors.
Dr. Fernando presents at the 2021 Gold Foundation Virtual Conference “Humanism and Healing: Structural Racism and its Impact on Medicine”
Dr. Fernando presented at the Gold Humanism Conference on a panel on “Advocacy and Grassroots Change with four other clinicians who successfully created change to address healthcare problems for vulnerable populations, and discussed their work and how participants can become advocates.
Libertas Clinical Director Presents at Panel on “Refugee & Displaced Populations Mental Health and the Path Forward” at Columbia University’s Postbac Premed Student Council
Walter Fendrich, Libertas’ Clinical Director, was invited to speak on a panel hosted by Columbia University’s Postbac Premed Student Council. The goal of the panel was for students to gain a better understanding of trauma-informed care when working with immigrant and refugee communities.
Libertas Ob/Gyn Volunteer Resident presents at the Virtual National Consortium of Torture Treatment Program’s 13th Annual Research Symposium
Libertas Ob/Gyn Volunteer Resident Dr. Bogaert presented the results of her retrospective cohort study on the gynecological care utilization patterns among female Libertas clients who have experienced gender based violence and received care at Elmhurst Hospital.
Dr. Fernando Publishes "Beyond Burnout: Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic Challenges to Self-Care"
Libertas’ Executive Director, Dr. Dinali Fernando, published the article in Current Psychiatry Reports alongside Dr. Richard Mollica and Dr. Eugene Augusterfer of the Harvard Program of Refugee Trauma.
Their paper reviews the significant emotional and physical challenges that healthcare providers continue to experience as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as self-care practices that can be used in response.