Binh Phung, a board-certified pediatrician and a member of the Yale School of Public Health’s inaugural Executive MPH class, has utilized his expertise gained from the program to establish a free clinic for Afghan refugees. This initiative stems from a deeply personal journey, as Phung himself was a refugee child 30 years ago.
Phung joined the Executive MPH program at Yale in 2021 with a focus on expanding his global health knowledge. While pursuing various goals, including improving teaching skills and gaining insights into epidemiological research methods, his primary objective was to enhance the health of refugee children and families globally. This passion led him to establish a free clinic in Tulsa, OK, catering specifically to Afghan refugees impacted by the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2020-2021.
As a pediatrician at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis in Tulsa and an associate professor of pediatrics at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Phung has a strong background in critical inpatient care. His family had relocated to Oklahoma from Vietnam in 1993, and their journey as refugees through the Orderly Departure Program profoundly influenced Phung’s commitment to serving displaced populations.
Under the guidance of the Executive MPH program, Phung gained the necessary knowledge and expertise to launch the free clinic and implement screening guidelines. EMPH Program Director Martin Klein highlighted Phung’s commitment, stating, “Binh made the most of his time in the EMPH program, both by taking courses that furthered his education and by tapping into the wealth of experience of our faculty.”
Phung’s collaboration with EMPH faculty, including mentor Kaveh Khoshnood, associate professor of epidemiology, played a crucial role in the clinic’s development. Khoshnood praised Phung for addressing critical public health issues affecting vulnerable populations.
Phung’s coursework in the EMPH program resulted in four peer-reviewed publications, including a review article in the journal “Frontiers in Public Health,” providing updated recommendations for the health needs of resettled refugee children in the U.S.
The clinic, operating under Xavier Medical Clinic, was established in 2021 with funding from the Saint Francis Health System. Dr. Rose Sloat, MD, serves as the medical director, and the clinic is staffed by dedicated volunteers from the local community, providing a range of services including health education, medical translation, primary care, medication assistance, and referrals to specialists.
Phung’s vision has expanded beyond Afghan refugees, and the clinic now provides healthcare to migrant children and families from Honduras, Venezuela, and Guatemala. Collaborating with YSPH Alumna Sumaira Akbarzada, MPH ‘21, who was also a refugee child, Phung ensures culturally competent care for the diverse population the clinic serves.
Akbarzada, now a doctoral student at Loma Linda University School of Public Health, commended Phung’s dedication to the refugee community, stating, “Seeing his compassion and dedication to the refugee community has been nothing short of inspiring. He has put his heart and soul on the line when working with this very vulnerable community, and I am so grateful for people like him who truly make this world a better place!”
Phung emphasizes the significance of equitable access to healthcare for forcibly displaced children globally, emphasizing that only a small percentage have the opportunity for permanent resettlement. His personal journey, rooted in his own refugee experience, has fueled his commitment to holistically care for vulnerable children, making the clinic a beacon of hope for those in need.
In Phung’s own words, “This story of holistically caring for refugee children reflects a personal journey 30 years in the making. The refugee child is me.”
