Endocrinology: Leptin Serves Body as Energy Signal Immunology: A Mechanism Discovered for Antibody Deployment Pathology: Tumor Suppressor Shows Another Way to Get Job Done Health Disparities: Symposium Explores Reasons and Remedies for Health Care Disparities Discovery Rewrites Text on Tendon Development P53 Relative May Confer Sensitivity to Cancer Drugs Targets Found in Worm Insulin Signaling Study Suggests Hypnosis May Benefit Wound Healing   Cambridge Health Alliance Names New CEO Howard Koh Urges Political Action in Public Health Alumni Week Preview New HMS Registrar Announced News Brief In Memoriam: Albert DeFriez   Students, Faculty Aid Refugee Families   Crossing Cultural Barriers a Patient at a Time   Front Page

IN THE COMMUNITY Students, Faculty Aid Refugee Families Through a collaboration between the Community Health Department of the Massachusetts General Hospital Chelsea HealthCare Center and HMS, the Refugee Project has thrived as a way to match the needs of refugee families with the time and resources of HMS students. Developed in 2001 by Alisa Land, HMS '04, with the support of Thomas Sterne, medical director of the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center and HMS instructor in medicine, and Elizabeth Miller, HMS instructor in pediatrics and pediatrician at MGH Revere, the project is now set to grow markedly. Blue Cross Blue Shield recently awarded a grant to further expand the project as part of the insurer's Pathways to Culturally Competent Care program. HMS students, matched by background and language skills, provide support and advocacy for the refugee families regarding social, educational, and health needs, assisting in activities such as doctor visits, college applications, and trips to the bank and library. Students also attend throughout the year faculty-run didactic sessions on cultural competency, mental health services, legal and human rights issues, and refugee health. "It is great to see the students give their all, both emotionally and physically. I can see the students grow and blossom as much as the families do," said Saida Abdi, the program coordinator for the Refugee and Immigrant Program at MGH Chelsea. Currently, 15 medical students volunteer their time to the Refugee Project. As it grows, increased faculty involvement will be necessary to assist in an increasing number of faculty-run workshops. As part of a new initiative, faculty members also will be needed to assist the student leaders in more in-depth needs assessment of enrolled families and development of workshops for incoming families. Miller emphasizes that this hard work is not without benefits. "The most rewarding aspect of working on this project has been watching the intimate and meaningful relationships that the students develop with the families over time," she said. "Seeing the impact that these relationships have on how they think of their role as future health care providers has been immensely gratifying for me." Students and faculty interested in volunteering with the Refugee Project should e-mail Elizabeth Miller at emiller@partners.org. --Galant Au