Katherine C. McKenzie, MD, FACP
Assistant Professor of Medicine (General Medicine); Director, Yale Center for Asylum Medicine, Internal Medicine
Biography
Research & Publications
Patient Care
News
Locations
Appointments
Biography
Dr. McKenzie practices general internal medicine at the Yale Adult Primary Care Center. She teaches medical students and residents in small group settings, in her ambulatory office and on the general medical wards at Yale New Haven Hospital.
Dr. McKenzie is the director of the Yale Center for Asylum Medicine. She and her colleagues at the Center perform medical forensic evaluations of asylum seekers. She works with attorneys from Yale Law School and the University of Connecticut School of Law, as well as the human rights groups such as Physicians for Human Rights, HealthRight International, the American Friends Service Committee and the Connecticut Institute of Refugees and Immigrants. She provides objective medical assessments of people who report experiencing torture or persecution in the countries from which they have fled.
Education & Training
- Intern and ResidentUniversity Hospital, Boston, MA (1995)
- MDBoston University School of Medicine (1992)
- MDGeorgetown University School of Medicine (1989)
- BAUniversity of Colorado at Boulder (1987)
Activities
- 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
- 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
- Documenting Physical Sequelae of Torture and Ill TreatmentCharlottesville, VA, United States 2020Documenting Physical Sequelae of Torture and Ill Treatment
- 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 Training Initiative | Creating novel, evidence-based, peer reviewed asylum training curriculum | 2022 - Present |
| Society of Asylum Medicine | Co-founder and co-director | 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 |
| 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 |
| Physicians for Human Rights | Pro bono medical expert | 2010 - 2022 |
| HealthRight International | Volunteer | 2010 - Present |