health means the world to us
North American Refugee Health Conference
Mark the Dates:
NARHC 2025 | Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
September 11 – 13, 2025
Who we are
North American Refugee Health Conference (NARHC) Inc. is a Canadian non-profit organization serving the refugee community in North America and globally. It is the transformation of the Canadian-based NARHC which had its inception in 2009, founded by Dr. Anna Banerji. To increase our mandate, we have expanded to become NARHC Inc.
NARHC Inc. engages with refugees and refugee claimants, governmental and non-governmental organizations, medical institutions, educational institutions and research institutes.
Board of Directors
Anna Banerji
Executive Director
Vanig Garabedian
Board Chair
Shelina Shivji
Board Vice-Chair
Assunta Marcolongo
Treasurer
Glen Kushla
Secretary
Sahar Bahadi
Sheikh Muhammad Zeeshan Qadar
What we do
Vision
Be the premiere Canadian institute, with global perspectives, developing and disseminating best practices for refugees and refugee claimants in the continuum of migration and
settlement. Equip healthcare providers and settlement workers through education, advocacy and research with the goal of achieving the best refugee settlement outcomes.
Mission
Implement the North American Refugee Health Conference, which brings together multi-disciplinary experts in refugee health and settlement from Canada and across the globe, to develop and discuss challenges, and solutions to optimize refugee health and settlement.
Define, formulate, and evaluate research in refugee health and settlement, and foster Canadian and international research collaborations and networking among scholars, service providers, policymakers, and refugee community advocates.
Promote refugee health by adopting a multidisciplinary approach that brings together experts in settlement, clinical practice, health, mental health, housing and employment and other determinants of health. Facilitate the establishment of standards, policies and best practices relating to health and settlement of refugees arriving in Canada.
Educate health providers and settlement workers on specific vulnerable refugee populations, including women, children and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons.
Educate health providers and settlement workers to build the capacity of refugees to advocate for themselves, taking into account structural competency and culturally appropriate care.
Develop and disseminate guidelines and best practices for refugee service providers. Advocate for better health and social outcomes for refugees by upholding human rights and fair practices.
Strategies
Plan and execute the North American Refugee Health Conference (NARHC) every 2 years.
Educate and equip healthcare providers and settlement workers by developing and delivering web-based programming including: webinars, workshops, discussion groups and a repository for educational material focused on refugee health and settlement.
Provide health education advice to service providers.