Katherine C. McKenzie, MD, FACP
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Biography
Katherine C. McKenzie, MD, FACP is a faculty member at Yale School of Medicine and the director of the Yale Center for Asylum Medicine (YCAM). She has practiced medicine at Yale for over 25 years. She teaches undergraduates, students, and residents, and is a member of Yale Refugee Health Program. She is a physician advocate for social justice and human rights.
Dr. McKenzie founded and directs YCAM. In this capacity, she has performed forensic evaluations of asylum seekers at Yale and in detention facilities, and has testified as an expert witness in immigration court for individuals referred by law schools, human rights organizations, and immigration attorneys. She leads the asylum medicine teaching program for trainees and faculty at Yale, mentors healthcare providers across the US, and lectures extensively nationally and internationally on topics of asylum, detention, and physician advocacy. She is an expert advisor for Physicians for Human Rights and serves on the boards of the Society for Refugee Healthcare Providers, Project Access New Haven, and Integrated Refugee and Immigrants Services. She is involved in medical-legal partnerships and collaborates with attorneys on civil litigation that supports human rights. She is a founder and director of the Society of Asylum Medicine.
She has written reviews, clinical case reports and opinion essays in publications including the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of General Internal Medicine, the British Medical Journal, Time magazine and CNN, among many others.
At Yale, she received the Leonard B. Tow Award for Humanism in Medicine and the Faculty Award for Achievement in Clinical Care. She has been named a “Top Doctor” by Connecticut Magazine for many years. She is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and has been certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine since 1995.
Education & Training
- Intern and ResidentUniversity Hospital, Boston, MA (1995)
- MDBoston University School of Medicine (1992)
- BAUniversity of Colorado at Boulder (1987)
Activities
- Overview of Asylum MedicineNew Haven, CT, United States 2023Asylum Medicine Colloquium
- Introduction to Providing Forensic Mental Health Evaluations and Testimony for Asylum SeekersWashington, DC 2023National Consortium of Torture Treatment Centers
- The Clinician as AdvocateSan Antonio, Texas 2023University of Texas Human Rights and Asylum Medicine Class
- Displacement, Immigration, and Refugee HealthNew Haven, Conn 2022Yale U.S. Health Justice Elective Course
- Asylum Medicine OverviewChicago, IL, United States 2022Midwest Human Rights Consortium
- A Years-Long Commitment: Supporting Refugees and Asylum Seekers Throughout Our Professional Lifespan.Cleveland, OH, United States 2022North American Refugee Healthcare Conference
- See How It’s Done: A Standardized Video Format Demonstrating the Forensic Evaluation of Survivors of TraumaCleveland, OH, United States 2022North American Refugee Healthcare Conference
- Forensic Evaluation of Asylum SeekersCleveland, OH, United States 2022North American Refugee Healthcare Conference
- Medical Evaluation of Asylum SeekersNew York, NY, United States 2021Medical Evaluation of Asylum Seekers
- Asylum Medicine for UndergraduatesWilliamstown, MA, United States 2021Asylum Medicine for Undergraduates
- Society of Asylum MedicineBoston, MA, United States 2021Society of Asylum Medicine
- Strategies for revised immigration practices and policies to promote social connections and rebuild family attachment relationshipsDenver, CO, United States 2021Strategies for revised immigration practices and policies to promote social connections and rebuild family attachment relationships
- Advocating for Asylum Seekers in a Time of Record Forced-Displacement A Collaborative, Interdisciplinary ApproachNew York, NY, United States 2021Advocating for Asylum Seekers in a Time of Record Forced-Displacement A Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Approach
- The Role of Social Determinants of Mental Health among Asylum Seekers: Implications for Sustainable Development GoalToronto, ON, Canada 2021The Role of Social Determinants of Mental Health among Asylum Seekers: Implications for Sustainable Development Goal
- Clinician Advocacy to Support Refugees, Immigrants, and Asylum SeekersToronto, ON, Canada 2021Clinician Advocacy to Support Refugees, Immigrants, and Asylum Seekers
- How to Write an OpEd: Supporting Migrants Through Opinion Essay AdvocacyToronto, ON, Canada 2021How to Write an OpEd: Supporting Migrants Through Opinion Essay Advocacy
- United We Stand, Divided We Fall: a descriptive study on the current state of asylum medicine workforce in the USToronto, ON, Canada 2021United We Stand, Divided We Fall: a descriptive study on the current state of asylum medicine workforce in the US
- Documenting Physical Sequelae of Torture and Ill TreatmentCharlottesville, VA, United States 2020Documenting Physical Sequelae of Torture and Ill Treatment
- Addressing the Public Health Crisis at Border Detention CentersBoston, MA, United States 2020Addressing the Public Health Crisis at Border Detention Centers
- The Clinician as AdvocateCleveland, OH, United States 2020The Clinician as Advocate
- Asylum Evaluations for Experienced Clinicians: A Deep Dive into Challenges and PitfallsCleveland, OH, United States 2020Asylum Evaluations for Experienced Clinicians: A Deep Dive into Challenges and Pitfalls
- Advocacy ForumCleveland, OH, United States 2020Advocacy Forum
- Medical Forensic Evaluations of Asylum SeekersNew York, NY, United States 2020Medical Forensic Evaluations of Asylum Seekers
- Forensic Evaluation of Asylum Seekers Training CourseCleveland, OH, United States 2020Forensic Evaluation of Asylum Seekers Training Course
- Forced Displacement during COVID-19San Francisco, CA, United States 2020Forced Displacement during COVID-19
- Asylum Medicine: Standard and Best PracticesToronto, ON, Canada 2019Asylum Medicine: Standard and Best Practices
- The Clinician as Advocate: Speaking, Writing and Organizing in Support of Refugees and Asylum SeekersToronto, ON, Canada 2019The Clinician as Advocate: Speaking, Writing and Organizing in Support of Refugees and Asylum Seekers
- Rally to Close Detention CampsWashington, DC, United States 2019"Rally to Close Detention Camps"
- Advocacy, Human Rights and the Role of Professional OrganizationsWashington, DC, United States 2019Advocacy, Human Rights and the Role of Professional Organizations
- Update in Asylum Law and Asylum MedicineToronto, ON, Canada 2019Update in Asylum Law and Asylum Medicine
- When Torture Survivors Recover and Heal: Exploring the Human Capacity for ResilienceBoston, MA, United States 2019When Torture Survivors Recover and Heal: Exploring the Human Capacity for Resilience
- Compounded Trauma While Seeking Refuge: a Case of Family Separation in Asylum MedicineNew Haven, CT, United States 2019Compounded Trauma While Seeking Refuge: a Case of Family Separation in Asylum Medicine
- Incorporating Health and Human Rights into Medical EducationToronto, ON, Canada 2019Incorporating Health and Human Rights into Medical Education
- Asylum Seekers in a Time of Record Forced Displacement: The Role of the ClinicianStony Brook, NY, United States 2018Asylum Seekers in a Time of Record Forced Displacement: The Role of the Clinician
- Medical Advocacy on Behalf of Detained ImmigrantsNew York, NY, United States 2018Medical Advocacy on Behalf of Detained Immigrants
- Asylum Seekers in a Time of Global Record Forced Displacement: The Role of the ClinicianPortland, OR, United States 2018Asylum Seekers in a Time of Global Record Forced Displacement: The Role of the Clinician
- Forensic Evaluation of Asylum SeekersPortland, OR, United States 2018Forensic Evaluation of Asylum Seekers
- Advocating for Asylum Seekers in a Time of Record Forces Displacement: A Collaborative, Interdisciplinary ApproachNew York, NY, United States 2018Advocating for Asylum Seekers in a Time of Record Forces Displacement: A Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Approach
- Advocating for Asylum Seekers in a Time of Record Forced Displacement: A Collaborative, Interdisciplinary ApproachWashington, DC, United States 2018Advocating for Asylum Seekers in a Time of Record Forced Displacement: A Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Approach
- Medical Evaluation of Asylum Seekers: Lessons from Two University-Based ModelsWashington, DC, United States 2018Medical Evaluation of Asylum Seekers: Lessons from Two University-Based Models
- Resilience in Asylum, Immigrant, and Refugee Medicine; Self-Care and Support to Promote Long-Term Involvement and Well-Being of CliniciansBoston, MA, United States 2018Resilience in Asylum, Immigrant, and Refugee Medicine; Self-Care and Support to Promote Long-Term Involvement and Well-Being of Clinicians
- Save the Affordable Care Act RallyNew Haven, CT, United States 2017"Save the Affordable Care Act Rally"
- Resilience in Asylum, Immigrant, and Refugee Medicine: Self-Care and Support to Promote Long-Term Involvement and Well-Being of CliniciansWashington, DC, United States 2017Resilience in Asylum, Immigrant, and Refugee Medicine: Self-Care and Support to Promote Long-Term Involvement and Well-Being of Clinicians
- Demonstrating Resilience After Fleeing Persecution: A Man Tortured for His Political Opinion is Granted AsylumWashington, DC, United States 2017Demonstrating Resilience After Fleeing Persecution: A Man Tortured for His Political Opinion is Granted Asylum
- A Woman Seeking Asylum Who Was Subjected to Female Genital CuttingWashington, DC, United States 2017A Woman Seeking Asylum Who Was Subjected to Female Genital Cutting
- An Innovative Approach to Teaching Asylum Medicine and Promote Resilience in Trainees Who Evaluate Torture Survivors: The Observership Model in a Simulation CenterWashington, DC, United States 2017An Innovative Approach to Teaching Asylum Medicine and Promote Resilience in Trainees Who Evaluate Torture Survivors: The Observership Model in a Simulation Center
- Engaging Students in the Evaluation of Asylum Seekers: Building Capacity, Teaching Service and ResilienceWashington, DC, United States 2017Engaging Students in the Evaluation of Asylum Seekers: Building Capacity, Teaching Service and Resilience
- Medical Evaluation of Asylum SeekersNiagara Falls, NY, United States 2016Medical Evaluation of Asylum Seekers
- Physical Evaluation of Asylum SeekersLos Angeles, CA, United States 2016Physical Evaluation of Asylum Seekers
- Local Global Health: Evaluating Asylum Seekers, Caring for RefugeesNew Haven, CT, United States 2016Local Global Health: Evaluating Asylum Seekers, Caring for Refugees
- Medical Evaluation of Asylum SeekersNiagara Falls, NY, United States 2016Medical Evaluation of Asylum Seekers
- Teaching Medical Students About Forensic Evaluations of Asylum Seekers: Five Clinical ModelsProvidence, RI, United States 2016Teaching Medical Students About Forensic Evaluations of Asylum Seekers: Five Clinical Models
- Physical Evaluation of Asylum SeekersNew York, NY, United States 2015Physical Evaluation of Asylum Seekers
- Evaluating Asylum SeekersBridgeport, CT, United States 2015Evaluating Asylum Seekers
- Teaching Cultural Sensitivity: Medical Evaluations of Asylum SeekersNew Haven, CT, United States 2014Teaching Cultural Sensitivity: Medical Evaluations of Asylum Seekers
- Case Studies of Asylum SeekersNew Haven, CT, United States 2013Case Studies of Asylum Seekers
- Medical Evaluations of Refugees and Asylum SeekersOrlando, FL, United States 2012Medical Evaluations of Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Honors & Recognition
Award | Awarding Organization | Date |
---|---|---|
Top Docs 2022 | Connecticut Magazine | 2022 |
Top Docs 2021 | Connecticut Magazine | 2021 |
Top Docs 2020 | Connecticut Magazine | 2020 |
Top Docs 2019 | Connecticut Magazine | 2019 |
Leonard B. Tow Award for Humanism in Medicine | Yale School of Medicine | 2018 |
Top Docs 2018 | Connecticut Magazine | 2018 |
Top Docs 2017 | Connecticut Magazine | 2017 |
Top Docs 2016 | Connecticut Magazine | 2016 |
Top Docs 2015 | Connecticut Magazine | 2015 |
Top Docs 2014 | Connecticut Magazine | 2014 |
Outstanding Faculty Vignette Poster, SGIM New England Regional Meeting. “Case Studies of Asylum Seekers.” | Society of General Internal Medicine | 2013 |
Faculty Award for Achievement in Clinical Care | Department of Medicine | 2010 |
Professional Service
Organization | Role | Date |
---|---|---|
Asylum Medicine Colloquium | Lead | 2023 |
Asylum Medicine Training Initiative | Creating novel, evidence-based, peer reviewed asylum training curriculum | 2022 - Present |
Society of Asylum Medicine | Co-founder and Co-director | 2021 - Present |
Physicians for Human Rights | Forensic Asylum Evaluation Expert Group | 2021 - Present |
Office of Global Health | Affiliated Faculty | 2020 - 2022 |
Physicians for Human Rights, American Civil Liberties Union and Others | Expert consultant on health of migrants in detention during COVID-19 pandemic | 2020 |
Integrated Refugee and Immigration Services | Board Member | 2020 - Present |
Yale Traditional Residency Program Residency Advocacy Group | Advisor | 2019 - 2020 |
North American Refugee Health Conference | Planning Committee | 2019 - 2020 |
Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers | Board Member | 2019 - Present |
Project Access New Haven | Board Member | 2018 - 2021 |
MacMillan Center, Program on Refugees, Forced Displacement, and Humanitarian Responses | Member | 2016 - 2023 |
MacMillan Center Program on Refugees, Forced Displacement and Humanitarian Responses | Committee Member | 2016 - 2022 |
Yale School of Medicine-Physicians for Human Rights Interest Group | Advisor | 2013 - 2020 |
Physicians for Human Rights | Pro bono medical expert | 2010 - 2023 |
HealthRight International | Volunteer | 2010 - Present |
Yale Traditional Residency Program | Interviewer 2002-2011; 2018-2020 | 2002 - 2020 |
Yale University Medical Shadow Program | Mentored students who shadowed me | 2000 - 2007 |