Loyola Medicine Asylum Clinic Opens at MacNeal to Provide Forensic Evaluations for Asylum Seekers

MAYWOOD, IL – Loyola Medicine recently opened the Loyola Medicine Asylum Clinic at MacNeal Hospital. Founded by Yessenia Castro-Caballero, MD, FAAP, and Amy Blair, MD, FAAFP, the clinic provides evidence-based medical examinations for asylum seekers. The clinic serves clients who are seeking humanitarian protection after experiencing trauma, including human trafficking, torture, anti-LGBTQ violence, religious persecution, female genital mutilation, sexual and gender-based violence and persecution by gangs. A survey published in the Journal of Immigrant and Minor Health found that 89% of asylum seekers who received forensic medical evaluations were granted asylum, compared with 37.5% among those whose evidence was not documented by a medical expert.

A member of the Refugee and Immigrant Child Health Initiative of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Castro-Caballero worked as a pediatrician on Chicago's southwest side where she saw immigrant families torn apart. "We wanted to find ways in which we can help and this was one simple way where we could help individuals have a chance at staying in the United States."

Dr. Castro-Caballero says the examinations generally take three hours but can last several days. "They tell you the story of how they came to the United States and the persecution they faced. Then, in the medical part, they show us their scars and we document those scars." After the exam, the doctors document their findings in a signed affidavit.

The clinic is staffed by volunteer doctors and residents who have been trained to perform forensic medical evaluations. Dr. Amy Blair has spent 15 years volunteering as a forensic evaluator. She's seen the number of asylum seekers grow exponentially as immigrants seek refuge from troubled regions around the globe. Now she trains other physicians through the Midwest Human Rights Consortium. "I want to share my experience to help empower more providers to be comfortable doing these exams."

Charles Bareis, MD, chief medical officer at MacNeal Hospital, said opening the clinic was the right thing to do. "40 to 50% of our patients at MacNeal are Spanish speaking and many are undocumented." He praised Dr. Castro-Cabellero and Dr. Blair for their work at the clinic: "they are living the mission of Loyola Medicine and Trinity Health by serving the most vulnerable in our community."

Richard Freeman, MD, MBA, FACS, regional chief clinical officer at Loyola Medicine, added, "we are proud of the doctors who have stepped up to volunteer their time not only to provide these evaluations but to train the next generation of physicians to provide this critical service."

For information about scheduling an evaluation with the Loyola Medicine Asylum Clinic at MacNeal Hospital, contact the Midwest Human Rights Consortium.