Advancing Health Equity: PIRCH's Commitment to Immigrant and Refugee Child Health

The last session of the 2023-2024 Foundations in Global Health Lecture series, held on Tuesday, May 21^st, featured Dr. Karla Fredricks and Dr. Eric A. Russell, highlighting the vital work of the Texas Children’s Program for Immigrant and Refugee Child Health (PIRCH). This lecture was part of ongoing efforts of Texas Children’s Global Health to present content that addresses health disparities and improve care for vulnerable populations.  

Dr. Fredricks, Director of PIRCH and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, and Dr. Russell, Associate Director and Pediatric Emergency Medicine specialist, outlined migration pathways and terminology, described PIRCH initiatives, and explained the program’s national collaboration efforts. Established in 2018, PIRCH aims to improve health outcomes for children newly arrived to the United States by promoting clinical excellence and eliminating barriers to care.  

PIRCH has been instrumental in uniting faculty and trainees interested in addressing the unique health needs of immigrant and refugee children. The program strives to ensure that all children, regardless of their country of origin, have access to high-quality healthcare services.  

Impact and Community Collaboration

The lecture emphasized PIRCH’s extensive community collaboration efforts, such as the Congolese Women’s Empowerment Group, which offers monthly health education sessions with Baylor Pediatric residents. These sessions cover essential health topics like nutrition, hand washing, and physical activity.  

Barriers and Solutions

Dr. Fredricks and Dr. Russell discussed the significant barriers to care that immigrants face. They also highlighted PIRCH’s efforts to link patients to comprehensive medical services, such as the Harris County Refugee Health Screening Program, which offers vital health assessments and vaccinations for refugees.  

The program recently received a 10-year NIH ComPASS grant (Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society) to identify high-risk, medically complex immigrants and connect them to essential healthcare networks.

Watch the session below: